Castellucci’s interpretation of Bach’s epochal »St Matthew Passion« is awaited with great anticipation. The passion zeros in directly at the heart of Christian belief, namely the redemption of humanity through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Castellucci’s central question is: can we, today’s audience, bear to witness this Man of Sorrows as described by Matthew? Castellucci transforms his contemplations into a spectacular scenic realisation, which directly addresses the audience and also interacts with its special stage location, the Deichtorhallen.
Taking charge musically is Hamburg’s newly arrived general music director Kent Nagano, together with the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra and superb collaborators led by British tenor Ian Bostridge.