Bach in the Forbidden City

Johann Sebastian Bach's music embraces the entire world. Now it is finding its way into the last uncharted territories of the musical globe. On 22 May 2004 the St. Matthew Passion will be given its first hearing in China at a momentous venue: the "Forbidden City" in the center of the Chinese metropolis, Beijing. The remarkable concert will be mounted by the International Festival Chorus, a choir established in 2002 from singers of many nations under the leadership of its founder, Nicholas Smith of England. Soloists from abroad will sing the parts of the Evangelist and Jesus. The choristers will sing in German using vocal scores from Bärenreiter's New Bach Edition.