St. Matthew Passion NY City Premiere Set for February 2011

January 13, 2011
by James M. Kushiner

 The English-language U.S. premiere of the St. Matthew Passion, by renowned Russian Orthodox composer and churchman Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, will debut in New York City on February 7, 2011. St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary will host the concert—which has received standing ovations from huge audiences in Moscow, Rome, Melbourne, and Toronto—at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, 405 West 59th Street, at 7:30 p.m.

“Just as J.S. Bach drew church congregations into the drama of Christ’s Passion in his day, so now, Metropolitan Hilarion is offering our post-modern world a corresponding experience with his fresh and original St. Matthew Passion, a profound piece of music that combines Gospel narrative with liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church,” said seminary Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield. “We invite lovers of sacred music to hear this magnificent, inspired work, which not only is beautifully stirring but also is a testament to the Orthodox Christian faith.” the rest