Matthäuspassion

“Many people are indebted to him for their appreciation of Bach, of music in general,” Germany’s President Joachim Gauck said, praising Helmuth Rilling. “Many people have him to thank for introducing them to lifelong pleasure that is simply irreplaceable.” Helmuth Rilling, who can look back on almost a lifetime of experience with the works of Bach, conducts the St. Matthew Passion at the Gürzenich Orchestra’s Good Friday concert. He will present the moving, overpowering musical realization of the Passion of Jesus with an outstanding ensemble of soloists with whom he has worked closely, headed by Lothar Odinius, internationally acclaimed as the Evangelist. The Cologne Cathedral Vocal Ensemble and Cathedral Choir, which perform regularly with the Gürzenich Orchestra, will also be heard. 
An unforgettable concert with Helmuth Rilling and Bach’s masterpiece can be anticipated, since, as Wolfram Goertz wrote in the newspaper Die Zeit, “Anyone who has ever heard a St. Matthew Passion conducted by him has witnessed a magnificent, unparalleled event presented with great expertise.” 
The annual performance of the Bach Passions on Good Friday is a long tradition with the Gürzenich Orchestra dating back to 1859, when Gürzenich Music Director Ferdinand Hiller conducted the St. Matthew Passion in the Gürzenich hall. It takes on a new dimension with Bach specialist Rilling.