Ratings and reviews for:

Bach's St. Mark Passion

Midwest premiere of BWV 247, reconstructed by Malcolm Bruno with new music by Richard Webster

Event Flyer

For the finale of its inaugural season, Bach in the City will present what it believes will be the first Chicago performance of any version of J. S. Bach’s St. Mark Passion. The concert takes place March 20 at our home venue, St. Vincent de Paul Church. This local premiere of Malcolm Bruno’s acclaimed new reconstruction of Bach’s lost masterpiece will include newly composed music for recitatives and turba choruses by Richard Webster, who says, “I will do my absolute best to honor the style of Bach." 

St. Mark Passion soloists will be Hannah De Priest, soprano; Ryan Belongie, countertenor; Oliver Camacho, tenor; and David McFerrin, bass, with the 40-plus member Bach in the City Chorus and a period-instrument orchestra conducted by Richard Webster.

Returns Policy:

All sales are final (No returns)


Exchange / Upgrade Policy:

Exchange / upgrade accepted within the same event (no money back) Click here to go to the event

Exchange / upgrade accepted up to 2 hours before the event.

Bach's St. Mark Passion image

Reviews & ratings

Summary:



4.8 / 5.0 based on 27 reviews

How did you like the event?

How did you like the event?

 The parking qr did not work. I had to pay $19. The concert was beautifully prepared and performed. I found the contrast between the Webster and the Bach jarring.

Mar 23, 2026
by:2100A BLATZ

How did you like the event?

 The performance was sublime. Instruments, performers, vocalists, and Richard Webster's added words and music were so moving and inspiring.

Mar 22, 2026
by:Susan Turner

How did you like the event?

 The performance was nothing short of exquisite! The additional music composed by Richard Webster was nothing short of stunning, and the whole production was so well crafted and dramatic that it really made the passion story come alive in a very new way - and that is hard to pull off 2,000 years after the original event! A special nod of appreciation to the soprano, Hannah de Priest, whose flawless voice shook the rafters of the church.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Rebecca Armstrong

How did you like the event?

 Excellent performance.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Marijane Deters

How did you like the event?

 Wonderful performance, and the new compositions were remarkably effective in creating the feeling of a Bach passion, even if the recitatives did not seem very Bachian themselves at times. Some embarrassing errors in the translations from German.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Roger Bagnall

How did you like the event?

 This was a remarkable experience.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Nancy Lewis

How did you like the event?

 The event shows that perfection still can be attained. It was engrossing, well-paced, with beautiful choral performances as well as by the individual singers. By the end I felt very moved . I am glad that we did not sing nr. 19, because that would have broken the atmosphere that enveloped us all.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Sylvie Romanowski

How did you like the event?

 Last night's performance was absolutely exquisite. I think we have been to all of the performances of this group, and it has only gotten better! The piece was magnificent in itself but the interpretation of the musicians enhanced it so fully that both my husband and I were under its spell. The singers did so much to bring out the emotions of the words, the chorus sang as one person, every word perfectly together. The orchestra another gift. (out of allowed words)

Mar 21, 2026
by:RUTH WOLL

How did you like the event?

 I thought this program was exquisitely performed, and clearly deeply thought out with a lot of attention to detail. Many congratulations to all. My one request would be, in the future, to provide more historical context for the program. The Passions contain deeply sensitive material. While they are performed frequently, their content—and the effects they have had on Jewish populations during Eastertide—is rarely addressed, and is often an elephant in the room.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Liza Malamut

How did you like the event?

 It was a wonderful event! Fine singing and orchestral playing of a magnificent piece. I appreciated the chance to join in singing the penultimate chorale, a nice touch that I think made everyone feel more connected to the event overall.

Mar 21, 2026
by: Verified consumer

How did you like the event?

 Amazing! Bach would be proud. All performers were outstanding. Bravo to Maestro Webster for this wonderful score and leading with such skill and sensitivity.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Mary Deysach

How did you like the event?

 Loved it. Beautiful space. A passion I've never heard live. I greatly appreciated the community spirit and how much everyone cared about the artistry, there is too little of that nowadays. It filled my soul.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Ben Davis

How did you like the event?

 Excellent vocal soloists and exceptional choral singing. First rate instrumental support. Maestro Webster had a vision of a more immediate Passion experience and brought it off persuasively.

Mar 21, 2026
by:David Schonfeld

How did you like the event?

 Spectacular in every way! Amazing soloists, orchestra, and chorus. Dramatic and beautiful!

Mar 21, 2026
by: Verified consumer

How did you like the event?

 We loved the venue and the music was mesmerizing. The choir was beautiful, especially the soloists, in particular, David McFerrin (Jesus). We wished that the concert had started earlier, like 7:00 pm.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Leslie Linke

How did you like the event?

 Quality of singers and orchestra was outstanding. So different than a typical "passion" piece. Would have preferred more chorus.

Mar 21, 2026
by:Nancy Anderson

How did you like the event?

 I’d love to experience it again!

Mar 21, 2026
by:Ellen Montgomery

How did you like the event?

Mar 26, 2026
by:William Beermann

How did you like the event?

Mar 22, 2026
by:Carol Patterson

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Sun Chang

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Greg Jorjorian

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Min Kim

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Richard Gorman

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Debra Leonard

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Richard Brink

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Barbara Clark

How did you like the event?

Mar 21, 2026
by:Gail Belytschko
Reviews source: Reviews for Bach%27s+St.+Mark+Passion



Some of the information shown above are collected from the web. TrustedViews cannot confirm the validity and accuracy of all the data.