Holland Baroque, together with the WDR (West Deutsche Rundfunkchor) and conductor Philipp Ahmann, will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion, one of the most poignant and dramatic works in the Baroque repertoire.
This collaboration brings together a rich choral tradition with a flexible and expressive instrumental approach. The WDR Rundfunkchor from Cologne is regarded as one of Europe’s leading professional choirs and is renowned for its transparent sound, stylistic versatility, and great expressiveness in both early and contemporary music. Under the baton of Philipp Ahmann, who has been the choir’s principal conductor since 2025, the ensemble has developed a distinctive profile in which precision and expression go hand in hand.
The St John Passion demands sharpness, contrast and dramatic intensity. In this performance, Holland Baroque and the WDR Rundfunkchor seek to capture the direct expressiveness of Bach’s music: from the charged opening choruses to the contemplative chorales and the personal arias. The evangelist and soloists give voice to the narrative, whilst the choir and orchestra reinforce the emotional depth of the Passion story.
About Philipp Ahmann
Having served as principal conductor of the NDR Vokalensemble in Hamburg and subsequently of the MDR Radio Choir in Leipzig, Philipp Ahmann has been appointed principal conductor of the WDR Radio Choir in Cologne from the 2025–2026 season. Holland Baroque invited him in 2022 to take part in the Utrecht900 celebrations, where he conducted an unforgettable concert bringing together Holland Baroque, the Netherlands Bach Society, members of the Netherlands Chamber Choir, the Utrecht Cathedral Choir School and children from the School for Young Talent in Suriname.
Programme
St John Passion, BWV 245 – Johann Sebastian Bach
Performers
Holland Baroque
WDR (West Deutsche Rundfunkchor)
Philipp Ahmann, conductor
Order tickets for 7 March
