Description
Saturday 28 February 2026 at 7pm
St George’s Bristol
Exultate Singers
Bristol Ensemble Baroque
Peter Davoren Evangelist / tenor
Frederick Long Christus / bass
Martha McLorinan alto
Bristol’s accomplished chamber choir Exultate Singers joins forces with the period-instrument orchestra Bristol Ensemble Baroque to perform one of the most profound and moving works ever written, J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
Composed in 1727 for Good Friday at St Thomas’s Church in Leipzig, the St Matthew Passion stands as one of the crowning achievements of Western music. It tells the story of Christ’s final days – his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and burial – in music of drama, devotion and beauty that continues to resonate nearly three centuries later.
Bach’s music moves seamlessly between vivid storytelling and moments of deep reflection. The Evangelist narrates the unfolding events in expressive recitative, and heartfelt arias, chorales and monumental choruses invite the listener to contemplate universal themes of suffering, compassion and redemption.
The tenor soloist and Evangelist is the “superbly artistic” Peter Davoren, who sings with illustrious groups including the BBC Singers, Monteverdi Choir, Tenebrae, the Sixteen and Solomon’s Knot. Bass Frederick Long, a distinguished concert and opera singer known for his performances with acclaimed vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, brings expressive warmth and dignity to the role of Christus. They are joined by Bristol Ensemble Baroque performing on authentic period instruments, bringing clarity, colour and immediacy to Bach’s glorious score.
The magnificent acoustic of St George’s Bristol provides the perfect setting for this immersive and powerful musical experience. Whether you are encountering the work for the first time or returning to it as a cherished masterpiece, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of spiritual and emotional intensity, performed in the original German.
Tickets
Front 5 rows of central stalls and central gallery £30
Mid and rear central stalls £27
Side stalls and first row of side gallery £27
Second row of side gallery £22
Third row of side gallery £18
How to book
Book with Exultate Singers box office (no booking fee)
Book with St George’s box office – the venue’s 9% booking fee applies
- Buy online at www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk (tickets on sale soon)
- Telephone 0117 929 4929 (open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 3pm)
- Book in person at St George’s Bristol (open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 3pm, and in person 90 minutes before the start of an event)
Peter Davoren – Evangelist and tenor arias
Peter is a member of the BBC Singers and is in very high demand as a consort singer, working with many illustrious groups such as the Monteverdi Choir, Tenebrae, the Sixteen, Solomon’s Knot, Musica Poetica and La nuova musica. He also is a regular member of the St. Bride’s Choir, as well as singing at Westminster Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. George’s Chapel Windsor and Westminster Abbey. He also is regularly invited to sing with London Voices on the soundtrack to the latest movies and video games.
Frederick Long – Christus and bass arias
Frederick Long has forged a richly diverse career, garnering acclaim in repertoire from Bach to Bernstein. Noted for the musicality of his performances, alongside vivid stagecraft, he is establishing himself as one of Britain’s most exciting and versatile young singers.
Martha McLorinan – alto
Martha McLorinan trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she held a scholarship with the BBC, won the Margaret Tann Williams Prize, and graduated with first class honours. She enjoys a varied career of oratorio, opera, consort work, session work and recitals and sings as a soloist and consort singer with leading ensembles including Ex Cathedra, The Sixteen, The Tavener Consort and the Feinstein Ensemble.