Easter with MonteVerdi

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Classical music and Easter

With Spring comes Easter: one of the most important religious feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar. From Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina to Arvo Pärt, Easter has been an inspiration to classical composers in every era. In the 18th century the great Johann Sebastian Bach wrote several oratorios and cantatas inspired by Easter, as well as various beautiful Passions. The Passion of the Christ continues to inspire composers, and has given us such delights as Messiaen’s otherworldly and uplifting L’Ascension. To celebrate Easter, MonteVerdi has compiled the most beautiful videos and recordings here

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Video on demand CD DVD Sheet music

Easter | Video on Demand

St. John Passion, J.S. Bach, Karl Richter, Munich Bach Orchestra

Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245 (Johannespassion) is played by the specialists of the Munich Bach Orchestra. Choir, orchestra and excellent vocal cast (Peter Schreier, Ernst Gerold Schramm, Siegmund Nimsgern, Helen Donath and Julia Hamari) are conducted by Karl Richter. watch trailer

Bach - St. John Passion

The principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, performs music by J. S. Bach. Together with the marvelous Berlin orchestra, the conductor takes on Bach's splendid St John's Passion. The solo voice parts are sung by the renowned soloists Juliane Banse, Michael Chance, Ian Bostridge, Rainer Trost and Thomas Quasthoff. watch trailer

Pärt - St. John Passion

Although the St John Passion by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt was written in 1981, it recalls the purity and timelessness of the great musical Passions of the seventeenth century. This performance, filmed in one of Europe’s noblest medieval monuments, Durham Cathedral, is given by the Hilliard Ensemble and the Western Wind Choir, conducted by Paul Hillier. The Passion takes chapters eighteen and nineteen of the Gospel According to St John, telling of Jesus being taken from the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter’s denial of Christ, the trial in front of Pilate, the crowd’s insistence that Christ should be crucified and His death upon the cross. With John Potter as Pilate and Michael George as Christ. The Evangelist Quartet comprises Mary Seers, David James, Roger Covey-Crump and Gordon Jones. The piece is sung in Latin and includes a short introduction. watch trailer

Easter | CD's

Christus am Olberge
Nicolai Gedda, Cristina Deutekom, Hans Sotin, Volker Wangenheim
go to Christus am Olberge

Liszt: Christus (Complete)
Valente, Lipovsek, Lindroos, Krause, Colon, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
go to Liszt: Christus (Complete)

Handel: Ressurection
Gabry, Toebler-Marizy, Lisken, Fackert, Wenk, Ewerhart, Santini Chamber Orchestra Muns
go to Handel: Ressurection

Olivier Messiaen: Turangalîla Symphony; L'ascension
Gabry, Toebler-Marizy, Lisken, Fackert, Wenk, Ewerhart, Santini Chamber Orchestra Muns
go to Olivier Messiaen: Turangalîla Symphony; L'ascension

Heinrich Schütz: Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi
From Cpo Records
go to Heinrich Schütz: Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi

Bach: Matthäus Passion; Johannes Passion; Markus Passion; Lukas Passion
From Brilliant Classics
go to Bach: Matthäus Passion; Johannes Passion; Markus Passion; Lukas Passion

Heinrich Isaac: Missa De Apostolis
From Gimell UK
go to Heinrich Isaac: Missa De Apostolis

Johann Pachelbel: Easter Cantatas
Pachelbel, Wilson, Capella Ducale, Musica Fiata
go to Johann Pachelbel: Easter Cantatas

Telemann: Harmonischer Gottesdienst, Cantatas for Easter & Pentecost
From Capriccio
go to Telemann: Harmonischer Gottesdienst, Cantatas for Easter & Pentecost

JRachmaninov: Russian Easter Vesper Mass

Rachmaninov: Russian Easter Vesper Mass
From Capriccio
go to Rachmaninov: Russian Easter Vesper Mass

Easter| DVD's

Bach - St. Matthew Passion
From Challenge Classics
go to Bach - St. Matthew Passion

Concerto Di Pasqua: Easter Sunday Concert: Jubilaeum
From Image Entertainment
go to Concerto Di Pasqua: Easter Sunday Concert: Jubilaeum

J.S. BachDol/C.P.E. Bach: Ascension Oratorios
From Euroarts
go to J.S. BachDol/C.P.E. Bach: Ascension Oratorios

Giuseppe Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri
From Foreign Media Group
go to Giuseppe Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri

Easter | Sheet music

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