The dialectic between doubt and faith in the semi-staged version of the “Matthäus-Passion” by Bach with Peter Sellars’staging

Abstract

Among the various theatrical adaptations of the Matthäus-Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach, the recent semi-staged version of Peter Sellars from 2010 at the Philharmonie Berlin merits an in-depth study. The staging favors an inner theatricality, of thought much more than action, which investigates the contrast between the rewards and frustrations deriving from mystical quest. The investigation carried out on some of the outstanding moments of the production, together with an analysis of the score, highlights the attention given to the dialectic between doubt and faith, something that has been explored very little in pertinent studies. This work focuses on the three main choruses, the arias of the contralto and tenor and the scene of Christ’s passing. The choices made by Sellars underline the aspects of a work that often chooses doubt over affirmation, expressing Bach’s great sensitivity for man’s insecurities when faced with the lofty heights of the Gospel.