Golgotha at Cambridge

The Philharmonia Chorus gave a rare performance of Golgotha by Frank Martin at the 2011 'Easter at King's' Festival on Good Friday, 22 April, in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. The BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Stephen Cleobury.

Golgotha is a large scale, highly dramatic telling of the Passion story that Swiss composer Frank Martin composed in 1945-6. It clearly came directly from the heart, since it was not commissioned. Martin was inspired to write it after coming across a Rembrandt etching, 'The Three Crosses'. Scored for five soloists, orchestra, chorus and organ, its 10 movements span over 90 minutes, and are vividly theatrical. It was performed in the original French.

The performance was attended by Mme Marie Martin, the composer's widow, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.