Melbourne put on a glorious autumnal Good Friday for the first post-lockdown performance by the Melbourne Bach Choir. JS Bach’s St Matthew Passion was performed in the acoustically and aesthetically breathtaking Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. It was a welcome salve to the hearts of Melbourne concert-goers, believers and non-believers alike.

Melbourne Bach Choir’s performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, April 2022. Image supplied.

The story of the crucifixion of Jesus as depicted by Bach is a musical masterpiece that transcends religion. It’s a tale of humanity at its best and worst, put to some of the most sublime music ever written. Under the direction of Rick Prakhoff, the Melbourne Bach Choir and Orchestra worked hard to express the emotional highs and lows of this tragedy: the baying of the crowd, the utter grief of the faithful, the hope for humanity of Mache dich, mein Herze, rein (Make pure my heart) in the closing stages.

The assured quality of this performance of the St Matthew Passion belied the many pandemic-induced obstacles and sheer hard work it took to get there. Two planned performances (of...