Johannes Passion

In 2019, music director Michael Gieler approached me to direct Bach’s Johannes Passion for performances at The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam and at the International Bach Festival in Gran Canaria. The staging primarily focused on utilising the choir as a unified entity, portraying both a formidable mob and a compassionate community. With a minimalist set, the choir had to create a strong physical presence, serving as a counterpart to the soloists.

In 2024, I received an invitation from Andoni Sierra to present the work at the Religious Music Festival in Cuenca, Spain. This opportunity allowed me to further refine the production in collaboration with a talented ensemble of musicians.

Reviews

“As I write, I try to remember all the emotions and sensations of a gamble that has changed my perception of the Bachian work. The first cause of all is the British choreographer Peter Leung. His scenic gamble is audacious in its simplicity. [...] the concept, as a whole, bordered on genius and almost absolute beauty. An unforgettable Passion.”

https://www.vocesdecuenca.com/culturayvida/viernes-santo-regala-una-pasion-inolvidable/

The design by Peter Leung was brilliant, [....] a scenic proposal that made the audience collapse as they experienced the Passion of Jesus Christ with a thrilling empathy.

https://www.enciendecuenca.com/2024/03/30/cuando-el-arte-alcanza-los-limites-de-la-emocion-historica-y-excelsa-pasion-segun-san-juan-en-la-smr/ Online. Accessed 8 April 2024

The theatrical proposal was by Peter Leung, who showed us that when there are clear ideas quality does not require quantity of means. It is difficult to do better with less material means; in other words, when there is intelligence there are many things.

Platea magazine: https://www.plateamagazine.com/criticas/16658-la-pasion-segun-san-juan-de-bach-y-la-creacion-de-haydn-en-la-semana-de-musica-religiosa-de-cuenca?fbclid=IwAR2sEC_dtBzebaUy7jGIeyLqOhga926pL5Ntb4X7hJdqSqeO5F7Rk74HfNc_aem_AbyLqN5YkhAdTu1gkmABLcYrWCExQ5GhqlAX5_swjUTGfwpBABZD2EGqMSU6gcN1UMI Online. Accessed 8 April 2024