Former Bishop of Salisbury and Rising Star join baroque orchestra in rural North Hants Passion

Following their highly successful debut in the performance of Messiah in December, the Burghclere Baroque Ensemble returns to The Church of the Ascension to perform Bach’s St John Passion on Sunday, this time directed by David Stancliffe, former Bishop of Salisbury, who is an expert on the works of Bach and over his lifetime has directed almost all of his cantatas as well as countless performances of the St John and St Matthew Passions.

A group of eight excellent young professional singers is headed by rising star Hugo Hymas as the Evangelist and they perform all the choruses as well as solo parts. They are joined by instrumentalists on period instruments, featuring several of the most talented emerging young performers in this field, led by Theresa Caudle.

Hugo Hymas grew up in Cambridge where he sang as a chorister in Great St Mary’s Church Choir. In 2014 he graduated with an honours degree in Music from the University of Durham. Hugo’s career sees him perform regularly at home and on the international stage as a soloist with ensembles such as The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, The English Concert, The Dunedin Consort, The Monteverdi Choir and The Gabrieli Consort, in repertoire by Monteverdi, Purcell, Handel, Bach and Haydn. He has also appeared on stage at La Scala, Milan in Handel’s Semele, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Hugo is a keen song recitalist, a former Britten-Pears young artist, and is currently on the Rising Stars scheme with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, with whom he has collaborated many times.

Burghclere Baroque Ensemble leader: Theresa Caudle

Conducted by the Rt Rev David Stancliffe

Evangelist: Hugo Hymas

Christus: Ben Rowarth

Charlotte la Thrope, Rosanna Wicks: sopranos

Joy Sutcliffe, Lucy Evans: altos

Benedict Munden: tenor

Florian Stoertz: bass

The performance will take place on Sunday, (April 3) at 7pm in The Church of the Ascension, Burghclere. Price: £25 per ticket. Two under-18s will be admitted free of charge with each paying adult. To order tickets email theresa@burghclerebaroque.com or tel. 01635 276009. Further details at www.burghclerebaroque.com

Burghclere Baroque is an organisation formed by professional musician Theresa Caudle in 2020 to promote the performance and study of baroque music in the beautiful, peaceful surroundings of the village of Burghclere in rural North Hampshire.