A woman stands in a black room against a digital screen playing the violin. On the screen is a branch against a blue sky.

Bach’s St John Passion

  • Classical Music
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra
  • Concert Hall
  • Run time: 150 minutes, including 1 interval Subject to change
  • Seating map

Leading interpreters of Bach unite for this singular performance of a choral masterpiece

Friendship. Betrayal. Grief. Hope. Death. Life. This is the greatest story ever told, set to music by the greatest composer who ever lived. Bach wrote music as an act of worship, marvelling at the complexity of life and humbling himself before God. His account of the final days of Jesus’ life is the pinnacle of choral music. Dramatic, awe inspiring and utterly human, it is a feat of storytelling that captures the sublime. 

For Richard Tognetti, a musician who has devoted a large part of his musical life to JS Bach, taking the St John Passion on a national tour is a long-held dream. To mark this special event the Australian Chamber Orchestra is joined by Vox Luminis, the multi-award-winning Belgian vocal ensemble whose radiant sound has made it one of the most admired interpreters of Baroque vocal music in the world today.

Bach’s St John Passion is an act of pure devotion that embodies the power of music and spirit of humanity. For audiences, it is a truly transcendent experience.

Event details

Bach is God to musicians. As a musician, there is so much you can reveal in his music. As a listener, there is so much you can access without even needing to truly understand why or how it’s affecting you

Richard Tognetti

Program

Johann Sebastian Bach St John Passion, BWV245

Artists

Director Richard Tognetti

Vox Luminis Artistic Director Lionel Meunier

Tenor Florian Sievers 

Vocal Ensemble Vox Luminis 

Australian Chamber Orchestra

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Attending this event

Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.

Ticket information

If you have further questions or need help, please refer to our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact a member of our team on 1300 764 849.

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall is located beneath the largest of Sydney Opera House’s roof sails, filling the upper levels of the west side of the building. Best accessed through the covered concourse. 

All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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