As Bach’s St Matthew Passion resounds throughout the Netherlands prior to Easter, the NBE also makes a tradition of his much-praised and unique adaptation from 2022.

Together with the puppeteers of the Duda Paiva Company, a top international cast of soprano Claron McFadden, baritone Rick Zwart, ney virtuoso Sinan Arat and in a special arrangement by young composer and former winner of the NBE composition competition Arjan Linker, the NBE’s St Matthew is a theatrical performance in which, with great respect for Bach and the Gospel of Matthew, nothing is sacred and safe.

This adaptation of the work fits into a tradition of contemporary translations by the NBE. Artistic director Bart Schneemann for instance already successfully ventured into ‘holy houses’ such as Mozart’s Requiem, Figaro and Don Giovanni, Haydn’s great oratorios and Mahler’s Lied von der Erde. For the ‘holy of holies’ the St Matthew Passion, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble joins forces for the second time with puppet magician Duda Paiva, with whom it created the highly acclaimed performance The Fairy Queen in 2018.

In colloboration with:

• Utrecht: 
  Kamerkoor JIP o.l.v. Imre Ploeg en Jonathan Ploeg
  Kamerkoor Decamerone o.l.v. Elske te Lindert
• Den Bosch:
  Capella Brabant o.l.v. Marc Versteeg
  Kamerkoor Decamerone o.l.v. Elske te Lindert
• Haarlem:
  Les Moucherons, o.l.v. Antje de Wit
  Kamerkoor Decamerone o.l.v. Elske te Lindert
• Amsterdam:
  Leiderdorps Kamerkoor & Kamerkoor Lux o.l.v. Angeliki Ploka
  Kamerkoor Decamerone o.l.v. Elske te Lindert

when to see it

• Tue 26 Mar 2024 20:00 Utrecht TivoliVredenburg Sold out
• Wed 27 Mar 2024 20:15 Den Bosch Theater aan de Parade Sold out
• Thu 28 Mar 2024 20:00 Haarlem Stadsschouwburg Sold out
• Fri 29 Mar 2024 20:30 Amsterdam Paradiso Sold out