Brockes-Passion

When B. H. Brockes published the Passion libretto „Der für die Sünde der Welt marterte und sterbende Jesus“ (known as Brockes Passion) in Hamburg in 1712, it immediately became a literary bestseller and was set to music more than 30 times by renowned composers. The most famous composition today is that by G. F. Handel, who set the verse to music in 1716, thereby creating his only sacred work in the German language. Stylistically however, the Brockes Passion rather follows Italian models and in its musical language is reminiscent of Baroque opera.

Walter Sutcliffe, one of the most sought-after directors of his generation, will be directing in Halle for the first time. He has staged countless critically acclaimed productions at major opera houses in Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Great Britain, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the USA, Chile and, last but not least, in 2019 the successful Handel opera production Rodrigo at the Göttingen International Handel Festival. Starting in the 2021/22 season, he will be the new opera director in Halle.