On Sunday the second of the opening concerts of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) was Bach’s St Matthew Passion at the Usher Hall.
Conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed wonderfully with superb singing by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus along with an impressive lineup of soloists.
This is a much more traditional treatment of the passion of Christ and certainly had a more solemn air about it compared to the previous night’s St Mark’s Passion.
It is always a delight to hear that magnificent Usher Hall organ, so this piece provided great pleasure. The recital was flawless, each part played and sung to perfection. This is the sort of impressive art which we have come to expect. True joy despite the tragic story it relates.
