‘St. John Passion’ to be Performed at UA on Good Friday

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – John Ratledge, associate professor and director of choral activities at The University of Alabama, will conduct the University Singers and Huxford Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Johannespassion,” or “St. John Passion,” Friday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Moody Concert Hall on the UA campus. The performance will be in German.

One of the monuments in sacred literature, Bach’s “St. John Passion” was probably first performed during Holy Week 1724 as a part of a church service. According to tradition which existed before the time of the Reformation, each of the four Gospels, as related by the four evangelists, were performed on different days of Holy Week: “St. Matthew” on Palm Sunday, “St. Mark” on Tuesday, “St. Luke” on Wednesday, and “St. John” on Good Friday.

Ticket prices for the performance are $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors and children. They are available for purchase at the box office at 205/348-7111.

The UA School of Music is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state. Students from the college have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Team.