The Bach "St Matthew Passion" is one of those pieces of classical music that I've always heard about, but never heard. It's regarded as one of the greatest pieces of sacred music ever written. On Friday (30 Sept 2011), the National Theatre presented the version of the St Matthew created by the great British director, Jonathan Miller. In Miller's staging, the orchestra sits in a circle, with the players and the singers in casual dress. Throughout the piece, the singers and orchestra interact with each other. It's staged to be performed in a theatre-in-the-round, but since the National is not set up that way, they put about 100 seats on the back of the stage, behind the performers. I was lucky enough to get a stage seat, and my seat was at the dead-center of the stage. For 12 GBP, it was an experience I will never forget.
One weird moment was when I realised that a major theme of the piece, "Oh Sacred Head Sore Wounded" was used by Simon and Garfunkel as the melody to "An American Song." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UasmivVYfPA
Another priceless London experience.
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