Review: St Matthew Passion, Leeds Town Hall *****

BACH’S massive yet delicate St Matthew Passion, multi-layered with mysticism, psychological observation and emotional force, is one of the most challenging musical creations ever written.Although a concert hall is not the ideal arena to hear the antiphonal effects of a double orchestra and chorus, this performance by Northern Sinfonia, Leeds Festival Chorus and – in the first half – choristers from Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School and Leeds Parish Church, was itself a stupendous miracle.Conductor Simon Wright shaped each phrase meticulously while shepherding his huge forces through

the work’s drama and spine-tingling spiritual introspection – few conductors anywhere in the world can achieve this as effectively as Wright.

In the best Lutheran tradition he treated orchestra, chorus and solo voices – instrumental and vocal – as equals. James Gilchrist was a persuasive and passionate Evangelist, and Paul Whelan a heroic Christus among the distinguished solo cohort including Sophie Bevan, Robin Blaze, Andrew Staples and Mark Stone.

Wright had the genius – never too strong a word for this conductor – to connect the listener to Bach’s other worldly and epiphanic moments, particularly the transcendent quartet for flute, two oboes and soprano For Love My Saviour.