{"id":3274,"date":"2020-12-30T22:04:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-31T04:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/?page_id=3274"},"modified":"2020-12-30T22:05:03","modified_gmt":"2020-12-31T04:05:03","slug":"staging-st-johns-passion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/staging-st-johns-passion\/","title":{"rendered":"Staging St. John&#8217;s Passion"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3274\" class=\"elementor elementor-3274\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-11dcbaf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"11dcbaf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-18d150a\" data-id=\"18d150a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1920582 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1920582\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"article-section-header\"><section><div id=\"article-header\"><div class=\"article-header-title\"><h1 class=\"article-headline\">\u2018Passion,\u2019 with drama: Lyric Opera of the North gives operatic staging to Bach\u2019s \u2018St. John Passion\u2019<\/h1><div class=\"light-grey byline\"><span class=\"mr2 b primary\">Written By:\u00a0<span id=\"noLink\" class=\"ttu\">fccnn Administrator<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"mr2 b primary\"><span id=\"noLink\" class=\"ttu\">Christa Lawler<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><time class=\"timestamp\">Oct 13th 2017 &#8211; 10am.<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><div id=\"article-section-body\"><div id=\"top-social-share\"><div class=\"addthis_inline_share_toolbox\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/lifestyle\/4343052-passion-drama-lyric-opera-north-gives-operatic-staging-bachs-st-john-passion\" data-title=\" \u2018Passion,\u2019 with drama: Lyric Opera of the North gives operatic staging to Bach\u2019s \u2018St. John Passion\u2019 | Duluth News Tribune\" data-description=\"Sarah Lawrence, soprano, watched part of a recent rehearsal of her company's staging of \"><div id=\"atstbx\" class=\"at-resp-share-element at-style-responsive addthis-smartlayers addthis-animated at4-show\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"at-f578fe01-8d1a-4c86-933b-a9c62fda4151\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><div class=\"at-share-btn-elements\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"article-header-media\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"topMedia\" class=\" ls-is-cached lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/article1695707.ece\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/3737382%2B101317.F.DNT_.OPERA_.C05.jpg\" alt=\"Twin Ports Choral Project members Lauren Burton (from left) Gudrun Witrak, Rachel Holte, Bianca Aspin, Bree Rodrigues support Jesus played by Jarrett Ott during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production of an operatic version of Bach's \" width=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/article1695707.ece\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/3737382%2B101317.F.DNT_.OPERA_.C05.jpg\" data-srcset=\"\" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">Twin Ports Choral Project members Lauren Burton (from left) Gudrun Witrak, Rachel Holte, Bianca Aspin, Bree Rodrigues support Jesus played by Jarrett Ott during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production of an operatic version of Bach&#8217;s &#8220;St. John Passion&#8221; at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth Tuesday evening. (Photos by Clint Austin \/ caustin@duluthnews.com)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"piano-inline-container\">\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"article-body\"><div class=\"main-body\"><div class=\"first-p\">Sarah Lawrence, soprano, watched part of a recent rehearsal of her company\u2019s staging of \u201cSt. John Passion\u201d while sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Park Middle School Auditorium.<\/div><div class=\"p402_premium\"><p>A young barefoot baritone in the role of Jesus; A neutral-tone clad guest chorus as the mob of people surrounding him; A mezzo-soprano embracing him.<\/p><div class=\"in-article-container\"><div id=\"in-article\">Lawrence might not be able to perform this as simply a concert ever again.<\/div><\/div><p>\u201cI sing these oratorios a lot,\u201d said Lawrence, one of six soloists in the production. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be really hard to sit still and sing Bach \u2018Passions.\u2019 They\u2019re all stories.\u201d<\/p><p>Lyric Opera of the North has given an operatic staging to Bach\u2019s \u201cSt. John Passion\u201d &#8211; which was originally written, and more commonly performed, as a liturgical piece. LOON\u2019s production features a chorus of about 40 musicians from around Northern Minnesota, members of Twin Ports Choral Project as supporting characters, and soloists including Jarrett Ott as Jesus, William Ferguson as Evangelist, mezzo soprano KrisAnne Weiss in a Mary Magdalene-esque role, tenor Brian Wallin and Douglas Webster as baritone, Pontius Pilate and Peter.<\/p><div id=\"in-article-2-container\"><div id=\"in-article-2\">\u201cSt. John Passion\u201d plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Park Middle School Auditorium, 3215 W. Third St. Tickets start at $37 and are available at loonopera.org.<\/div><\/div><p>The story is a retelling of Martin Luther\u2019s translation of two chapters from the Gospel of John. Within it, Jesus is arrested, tried, crucified and buried. He\u2019s visited by Mary Magdalene, he\u2019s denied by Peter.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Lawrence, the company\u2019s co-artistic director with husband Calland Metts, said local audiences have likely seen \u201cSt. John Passion\u201d in its traditional concert form many times.<\/p><p>The opera company wanted to do with it what they do best: storytelling.<\/p><p>\u201cWe wanted to see if there was a way to apply what we do to this piece &#8211; which has all the elements of opera,\u201d she said. \u201cGreat drama, the great scenes of love and anger and betrayal and violence toward each other and compassion and redemption. These are operatic themes.\u201d<\/p><div class=\"inline-element\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 1140w, \" alt=\"KrisAnne Weiss hugs Jarrett Ott who plays Jesus during a scene from an operatic version of Bach's \" width=\"1140\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697005-nxmg9x-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737402.jpg 1140w, \" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">KrisAnne Weiss hugs Jarrett Ott who plays Jesus during a scene from an operatic version of Bach&#8217;s &#8220;St. John Passion.&#8221;<\/div><\/div><\/div><p><strong>Luther+Bach<\/strong><\/p><p>The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra has built a season around the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and its director, Dirk Meyer, has continued the theme in his side-gig as LOON\u2019s music director.<\/p><p>\u201cI thought it was an intriguing idea, to do something like this, take one of the \u2018Passions\u2019 and stage it,\u201d said Meyer, who has only seen video footage of another company\u2019s dramatic take on Bach\u2019s \u201cSt. Matthew Passion.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve thought it was an extremely strong way to tell this particular story.\u201d<\/p><p>And because of the timing &#8211; the Reformation was 500 years ago this month &#8211; and the direct link between Luther and Bach: \u201cIt seemed like an appropriate choice,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>Director Robert Neu was faced with uncharted territory &#8211; kind of. He had not ever seen a staging of \u201cSt. John Passion,\u201d but had staged \u201cSt. Matthew Passion.\u201d<\/p><p>That, he said, gave him a shortcut.<\/p><p>\u201cI \u00a0had a point of reference for what style and tone works,\u201d said Neu. \u201cI started thinking about what that looked like and how it could be applied. It\u2019s hard to know how to treat these \u2018Passions,\u2019 they weren\u2019t meant to be staged.\u201d<\/p><p>The biggest difference between St. Matthew and St. John: Much of \u201cSt. John Passion\u201d is told by the street chorus, played by Twin Ports Choral Project.<\/p><p>To prepare, Neu said he read the text over and over and over again, then listened to the music over and over and over again. Then he started imagining.<\/p><div class=\"inline-element\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 1140w, \" alt=\"Tenor Brian Wallin embraces Jarrett Ott who plays Jesus during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production.\" width=\"1140\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4697007-cah37p-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737421.jpg 1140w, \" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">Tenor Brian Wallin embraces Jarrett Ott who plays Jesus during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production.<\/div><\/div><\/div><p><strong>Neu\u2019s take<\/strong><\/p><p>For people raised in, or familiar with Christian tradition, the story is well-known. Neu wanted to personalize it for audience members, so he removed the literal elements. There is no cross on stage, just a set of blocks to provide the symbolism. The set design is spare and does not suggest a place. The characters are not in period clothing.<\/p><p>\u201cThat would make it too much like a pageant,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>One of his biggest creative decisions: Weiss\u2019s Mary Magdalene is in a deep relationship with Jesus &#8211; if not romantic.<\/p><p>\u201cThe human terms are what make it so moving,\u201d Neu said.<\/p><p>If the cast is to be believed, the moving part has been achieved. A recent rehearsal offered a moment that has already become goosebump-inducing lore. \u00a0<\/p><p>\u201cIt started with that darn Sarah Lawrence,\u201d said Neu.<\/p><p>In the second half of the performance, bodies are strewn across the floor and Lawrence wanders among them and delivers an aria about Jesus\u2019 death on the cross and a reflection on all that has happened. It\u2019s hard-hitting.<\/p><p>Neu recalled looking around the room and seeing tears streaming down faces.<\/p><p>The music director was also affected.<\/p><p>\u201cI was really quite surprised, to be honest, how much I felt when I first saw that scene as I was conducting along,\u201d Meyer added. \u201cI really had to swallow many times during that aria to not tear up. It\u2019s really powerful.\u201d<\/p><p>It\u2019s an image Meyer said will stick with him.<\/p><p>\u201cI\u2019ll never forget that and when I hear it, I\u2019ll never forget those pictures,\u201d he said.<\/p><div class=\"inline-element\"><div class=\"image\"><div class=\"landscape \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 1140w, \" alt=\"Mezzo-soprano KrisAnne Weiss performs during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production.\" width=\"1140\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_480\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_560\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/4694885-g3qflw-Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg\/alternates\/BASE_LANDSCAPE\/Duluth-News-Tribune-October-2017-picture-3737422.jpg 1140w, \" \/><\/div><div class=\"caption\">Mezzo-soprano KrisAnne Weiss performs during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"article-section-related\"><div class=\"related-media\"><div class=\"slider-container\"><div id=\"fccslider\" class=\"article-slider\"><div class=\"slider\"><div class=\"individual-slide\"><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"slider-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duluthnewstribune.com\/incoming\/article1695708.ece\/alternates\/LANDSCAPE_768\/3737418%2B101317.F.DNT_.OPERA_.C01.jpg\" alt=\"Duluth News Tribune\" \/><\/p><div class=\"carousel-info\"><div class=\"caption\">Members of the Twin Ports Choral Project sing during a scene from the Lyric Opera of the North production of an operatic version of Bach&#8217;s &#8220;St. John Passion&#8221; at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth Tuesday evening. (Clint Austin \/ caustin@duluthnews.com)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018Passion,\u2019 with drama: Lyric Opera of the North gives operatic staging to Bach\u2019s \u2018St. John Passion\u2019 Written By:\u00a0fccnn Administrator\u00a0|\u00a0Christa Lawler\u00a0|\u00a0Oct 13th 2017 &#8211; 10am. \u00a0 \u00a0Twin Ports Choral Project members Lauren Burton (from left) Gudrun Witrak, Rachel Holte, Bianca Aspin, Bree Rodrigues support Jesus played by Jarrett Ott during a scene from the Lyric Opera [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3274","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3274"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3285,"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3274\/revisions\/3285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anngumpperdesign.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}