THIS performance, sung in German, was as close to the 1725 version as possible which meant the opening chorale was not as we generally hear today, and several arias added later, were substituted back to the original ones.

All the chorales were sung with an orchestral accompaniment, and no pauses were observed at the ends of lines, as the tradition has now generally become.

The Three Cathedral Choirs sang well overall although more volume in the trebles would have helped.

The Brandenburg Consort (compete with mellow wooden flutes) provided the accompaniment and continuo. Roy Goodman conducted.

Rogers Covey Crump (tenor) was the Evangelist, Stephen Varcoe (baritone) was Christus. Other soloists were Emma Kirby (soprano), Robin Blaze (male alto), Michael George (bass/baritone) and William Kendall (tenor). All were entirely suited to the music.

Much of the interpretation was note-worthy: in Crucify the inner parts were clearly heard and sung well; the fugal section of We must not tear this was crisp; and the final chorus Lie still was beautiful; the bass solo with chorus My dearest Saviour, and the alto aria It is accomplished with its change of tempo towards the end, were both convincingly sung.

A certain amount of raggedness between the orchestra and choir occurred at times; some tightening up would have benefited this performance.

Jill Hopkins