As the work is in German, and surtitles are unlikely, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with it beforehand. A DVD is preferable to a CD because it will have subtitles, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s version with the Tolzer Knabenchor is riveting. It copies the conditions of Bach’s day — no women performers, and only a small orchestra using period instruments (Johannes-Passion, DGM 073-4291, reviewed in the Taipei Times on Aug. 27, 2008).
Among this weekend’s soloists, Taiwan’s Tsai Wen-hao (蔡文浩) (Figaro in the NSO’s 2006 The Marriage of Figaro) will sing Jesus, South Korean-born David Dong-Guen Kim will be Pilate, and Lee Pei-ying (李佩穎) (who also sang in the B Minor Mass) will take the soprano roles. The key tenor role of the Evangelist will be taken by Lothar Ordinius.
Rilling himself is very eminent, and for Taiwan to get him a second time can only be a tribute to the quality of the performers he found when he worked here two years ago.
This is a series of events that’s not to be missed, and certainly won’t be by anyone who was present at that never-to-be-forgotten 2008 B Minor Mass concert.
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