Dharmapala College

Friday, 5 March (6pm) to Sunday, 7 March (evening)

With Suchitta and Dhammaloka

Open to all.

How strange yet deeply moving if, as Buddhist, we listen to Bach’s dramatic re-telling of the events that led to the crucifixion!

In that we will find it difficult (and probably undesirable) to see ourselves as sinner faced with their impending salvation, we are bound to respond very differently to Bach’s monumental work than the congregation did in Leipzig nearly 300 years ago. How can we then best listen to a work that, in Rilke’s words, is a manifestation of “indefatigably skilled craftsmanship no less than of uninterruptedly practised faith”?

On the one hand, we might simply listen, receptive with our own full humanity that will enable us to experience the truth behind the surface — simply because we, too, know the truth of suffering and bondage in conditioned existence, and the feelings and emotions that spring from that. Yet our experience, knowledge and appreciation will gain in depth through entering into the particular musical gestures, thoughts and symbols; from the narrative of disaster and fortune; as well as the musical imagination and abstraction which, taken together, make up the ‘text’ of this great masterpiece of the ‘Religion of Art.’

Suchitta and Dhammaloka, both professionally trained musicians, will introduce you to Bach’s work.

Our seminar will conclude with a performance of the St Matthew Passion at the Birmingham Symphony Hall — on Sunday night. Sir Simon Rattle leads an international cast in what is sure to be one of the outstanding events of the season.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Camilla Tilling soprano
Magdalena Kožená mezzo soprano
Mark Padmore tenor
Topi Lehtipuu tenor
Christian Gerhaher baritone
Thomas Quasthoff baritone
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus (Juniors)

 

We have reserved 10 tickets only. Make sure to book early.

Suggested donation: £60 + £15 for the ticket. Accommodation: £15/10 per night.

Please book early. Our teachers put a lot of preparation into the seminars — sometimes several weeks of work. We would find it irresponsible to let them continue with their preparations and then cancel the even at short notice due to lack of participants.

If you consider attending, but aren’t as yet certain, please let us know.

If four weeks before an event, we still don’t know that there will be a sufficient number of people attending, we will usually cancel it. By booking early, you can help us prevent disappointment on all sides.

To ask for further information or to book for this event, please contact us here.

To go back to our 2010 schedule, please click here.