In the days of Georg Philippe Telemann, passion music was performed in European temples every year during the celebrations preceding Easter. It was conducive to spiritual contemplation accompanying the most significant of Christian celebrations. This year Wratislavia Cantans invites you to a unique performance of Brockes-Passion; the work will sound in one of the oldest churches in Wroclaw.

The long tradition of passion music is covers many extraordinary pieces, the impressive oeuvre of Telemann being one example. Since 1721, when he took the function of the cantor at the evangelical church of St. John in Hamburg, the composer wrote at least one passion composition each year and over forty altogether. Prior to joining the Hamburg parish, he created Brockes-Passion, which the academics refer to as a passion oratory. The title draws from the name of a Hamburg poet, Barthold Heinrich Brockes. Telemann took advantage of his text Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus which is a paraphrase of all four Gospels. Brockes' work was popular with composers and adapted for music several times, including an attempt by Georg Friedrich Händel and Johann Mattheson.

Music to the fragments of Brockes' work was also composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, who created several successful arias with the piece. Telemann's work stands out from the other pieces with a truly contemplative character. It is also devoid of excessive emotionality, which favors deep reflection and prayer. Brockes-Passion will be performed by an international cast. Exceptional soloists and two choirs of the National Forum of Music will be accompanied by Il Giardino Armonico - one of the first early music ensembles playing uninterrupted since 1985. The musicians will be led by the founder of Il Giardino Armonico and art director of the International Wratislavia Cantans Festival, Giovanni Antonini, a renowned conductor, one of the best interpreters of early music.