Adrian Partington, Gloucester Choral Society, Corelli Orchestra, Gwilym Bowen, Tim Nelson, Lucy Hall, Juliet Curnow, Adrian Powter

Music for the soul, both dramatic and contemplative - rich with intricate details. Bach believed he was making 'the greatest of all Christian works' and we suspect he may have been right. Transcendent, heartrending and redolent with sorrow this is one of the world's major choral works.

'The hairs stand up on my neck from the minute the orchestra begins the Prologue, and the music (Bach was such a genius) just builds and builds until the sublime first chorus - just amazing.'

'The rich harmonies, the wonderful melodies, the sympathetic orchestration, all seem just perfect to me, and I am always sad to get to the last few pages. The final chorus wrings the last drop of emotion out of you as a singer, so much so that you almost don't want the audience to applaud and break the spell. Often, the conductor will hold his baton up for quite a time after the music has finished, to hold the atmosphere for a little longer.'

See www.gloucesterchoral.com for further information.