From the intractable swell of the opening chorus to the profound solemnity of the last, its tone one of quiet resignation, the Matthew Passion is a work with the power to move us like no other. Bach conceived it on a grand scale, allowing for double chorus and double orchestra, and the themes it explores are just as monumental too. How each of us, of all faiths and none, can find joy and hope even amidst the depths of sorrow.

For this, Dunedin Consort’s first appearance at the Boston Early Music Festival, the group is joined by Kris Bezuidenhout, who directs from the keyboard in the work’s original format of one voice per part.