NEWS PROVIDED BY
Arts Empowering Life
April 16, 2026
ORLEANS, Mass., April 16, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Orleans, Cape Cod, MA, May 29 & 30—J. S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, perhaps the greatest masterpiece in all of sacred music, will be presented by the renowned choir Gloriæ Dei Cantores and Creare Symphonia, and joined by internationally acclaimed soloists. This work of supreme beauty and profound emotion—telling the story of Christ’s last days—will come to life in the Church of the Transfiguration with its stunning acoustic and ravishing frescoes and mosaics.
The Passion was first performed on Good Friday in 1727 at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany where Bach was the musical director.
This performance 299 years later celebrates the work in its original context: in a church sung as an act of worship, fostering community and healing, and awakening deep human emotion—love, grief, regret, despair, pain, hope, and awe.
Bach—sometimes called the 5th evangelist—wrote this “5th gospel” with text from the Gospel of Matthew, poetry by Picander, and chorales with words and tunes from the Lutheran hymnal of his day. In 1828, young Felix Mendelssohn sparked the world-wide and lasting renaissance of Bach’s music when he presented the first performance of the Passion in 100 years!
The December 1968 TIME magazine cover article featuring Bach, “Music from the Fifth Evangelist: A Composer for All Time,” speaks to his relevance for listeners today: “Order and spirit are the twin pillars of Bach’s enduring appeal.”
Soloists:
Andrew Nolen: Bass (Jesus)
David Vanderwal: Tenor (Evangelist/Narrator)
Sr. Amanda Ortolani: Soprano
Kathryn Leemhuis: Mezzo-soprano
Neal Ferreira: Tenor
David Adam Moore: Baritone
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Gloriæ Dei Cantores (Singers to the Glory of God) from Cape Cod, MA holds a passionate dedication to illuminate truth and beauty through choral artistry, celebrating a rich tradition from Gregorian chant to the twenty-first century. Since 1988, the choir has received critical acclaim for its artistic elegance, performance authenticity, and compelling spirituality. Gdcchoir.org “Beautiful, affecting music” Chicago Tribune “Superb!” BBC “A quality that lies beyond words” Boston Globe
Creare Symphonia, Arts Empowering Life’s resident orchestra, made up of AEL Artists and contracted freelance professionals from around the globe, performs year-round on Cape Cod. artsempoweringlife.org “Gorgeous music…played beautifully” Boston Musical Intelligencer
TICKETS and INFO Always free for Students & Youth
SOURCE Arts Empowering Life
CONTACT: Pam Jordan, 774-722-2443, pamj@artsempoweringlife.org