Cody Quattlebaum to make U.K. debut in St John Passion

Cody Quattlebaum and his mane of Biblical proportions

After competing in the Glyndebourne Cup this month, Cody Quattlebaum will make his official U.K. debut with the Academy of Ancient Music as Christus and the Bass Soloist in Bach's Johannespassion (St John Passsion) at the Barbican Centre on March 30th.

Quattlebaum is one of seven of the 24 singers selected for the inaugural Glyndebourne Opera Cup on March 22. The field will be narrowed to 10 finalist for the March 24th competition, which will be broadcast on Sky Arts.

The St John Passsion will also feature James Gilchrist as the Evangelist, countertenor Iestyn Davies, soprano Lydia Teuscher and the rising tenor sensation Ilker Arcayurek, all under the baton of  Riccardo Minasi. Tickets are available online. 

The St John Passion was written during Bach's first year as director of church music in Leipzig and was first performed on April 7, 1724 at Good Friday Vespers. The anonymous libretto draws on existing works and is compiled from recitatives and choruses narrating the Passion of Christ as told in the Gospel of John, ariosos and arias reflecting on the action, and chorales using hymn tunes and texts familiar to a congregation of Bach's contemporaries.

Quattlebaum, who has already gained a following in the U.S., will also be making his German debut this year.