Petts Wood Festival Chorus perform St John Passion

4:13pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

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Performances of Bach's St John Passion from Petts Wood Festival Chorus were fine achievements, says reader Roger Wright

Bach's great masterwork, the St John Passion, was sung in Christ Church and St James' churches on the weekend of March 15 and March 16 by the Petts Wood Festival Chorus.

This was the first performance for this new choir, and some 60 singers were joined by talented players from the local area, together with soloists, to give two very effective and moving presentations of the work.

The Evangelist was sung by Ben Thapa (of G4 fame), together with Sarah-Louis Ince (alto), Lesley Knight (soprano) and Jonny Davies (bass).

First performed in 1723, the music tells the story of Christ's suffering and death.

The choir, orchestra and soloists brought out the spiritual depths of the work, vividly creating the drama of the narrative through Bach's sublime music.

Many of the singers had never sung in a choir before. The Rev Pauline Sparkes (minister at Christ Church) praised the performers for a magnificent achievement in just 10 weeks.

Canon Tom McHugh (Dean of the Catholic Deanery of Bromley) congratulated conductor Bryan Wells for making "wine out of water" and in bringing out the best in the choir.

Bryan Wells thanked everyone who had made the project so enjoyable and worthwhile.

Both churches were full, and the work proved a worthy opener to Holy Week.

A cheque for £2,000 has been sent to the Bromley Branch of the Alzheimer's Society.

The choir will be assembling again in June to lead the Petts Wood Residents' Association service at the Memorial Hall and a further concert is being planned for the autumn.

Bryan Wells said that this had been a great way of bringing people, and different churches, together in serving the local community.

To find out more about the chorus, call 01689 827100.