WELLINGTON Choral Society and Wellington Sinfonia will be performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion at St John’s Church, Wellington, next month.

This oratorio is considered by many to be among the greatest choral works ever written. Wellington Choral Society last sung the Passion on March 29, 1952, so when they perform it on Saturday, March 30, they will be performing this gem of sacred choral music almost exactly 67 years later.

The St Matthew Passion was written by Bach in 1727 and was probably first performed on Good Friday in the same year in St Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) in Leipzig, Saxony.

The work is for a choir, solo voices and orchestra. Both the choir and the orchestra are divided into two sections becoming a double choir and a double orchestra. However, several chorales are sung by the whole choir.

In 1951/52, the choral society was seeking additional members for the Passion and the situation remains unchanged both in relation to this piece and generally.

WWN readers who have any inclination towards choral music, or just fancy having a go, are invited to drop in for a couple of taster sessions at the choir’s rehearsal venue, Wellington Methodist Church, Waterloo Road, Wellington TA21 8JQ. Rehearsals are every Wednesday starting at 7pm for 7.30pm. Auditions are not held and the ability to read music is not necessary.

Tickets for St Matthew Passion are £14 (under 18s free) and are available from Odette’s Tearoom, 27 High Street, Wellington (phone 01823 667919), online at www.wellingtonchoralsociety.org.uk, choir members or on the door.