Johann Sebastian Bach: St Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244

23 June 2026

Background

Written in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto in German by Picander.
Sets the 26th and 27th chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with chorales and arias.
One of two Passion settings by Bach that have survived in their entirety; the first being St John Passion.

Recordings

St Matthew Passion

Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Brook (baritone), Susan Hamilton (soprano)

Dunedin Consort & Players

Cond. John Butt · Linn

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2008): Choral & Song Choice
🏆 Radio 3 Building a Library (2012): First Choice

St Matthew Passion

James Gilchrist (tenor), Stephan Loges (baritone), Hannah Morrison (soprano)

English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Trinity Boys Choir

Cond. Sir John Eliot Gardiner · SDG

🏆 Gramophone Awards (2017): Finalist Baroque Vocal

St Matthew Passion

Christoph Prégardien (tenor), Matthias Goerne (baritone), Christine Schäfer (soprano)

Concentus Musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Choir

Cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Warner Classics

🏆 Grammy Awards (2001): Best Choral Performance
🏆 Gramophone Awards (2001): Winner Baroque Vocal

Matthäus-Passion

Sunhae Im (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano), Werner Güra (tenor)

RIAS Kammerchor, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Cond. René Jacobs · Harmonia Mundi

St Matthew Passion

Peter Pears (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus

Cond. Otto Klemperer · Warner Classics

🏆 Grammy Awards (1962): Best Choral Performance

Matthäus-Passion

Julian Prégardien (tenor), Stéphane Degout (baritone), Sabine Devieilhe (soprano)

Pygmalion

Cond. Raphaël Pichon · Harmonia Mundi

🏆 Gramophone Awards (2022): Recording of the Year & Choral Award
🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2022): Winner

St Matthew Passion

Benjamin Bruns (tenor), Carolyn Sampson (soprano)

Bach Collegium Japan

Cond. Masaaki Suzuki · BIS

🏆 Gramophone Awards (2020): Winner Choral

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Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.

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