Passion Premier Raises £1,000 for Malawi Orphanage

The world premiere of Geoff Davidson’s The Passion was performed at Dalry church on Easter Saturday.

A capacity audience of over 150 people enjoyed a dramatic performance of the new choral work from the Glenkens Parish Choir with church members taking the spoken roles of Pontius Pilate, the high priest Caiaphas and choir members reading Peter, Judas and ‘Doubting’ Thomas.

Robert Lind’s beautiful baritone complemented the role of Jesus with impressive authority and there were high points of emotion as the Christ was bereft of accompaniment at his death but triumphant in his victory following the resurrection.

Nicola Junor used her beautiful soprano to highlight responses to the various events and, as Mary Magdalene, brought her stunning interpretative power to a gripping climax as she met Jesus in the Garden at the entrance to the tomb. The power and tension of the trial before Pilate was clearly defined and the anger of the baying mob brought magnificently to life.

The performance was underpinned with conviction and clarity by Roy Stairmand as the Evangelist who was completely at home in the Scottish language used to relate the tragic events. The final uplifting choruses to each part were gloriously delivered by the Glenkens choir, punching well above their usual weight and treating us to a concert that will live long in the memory.

Financial donations from the audience amounted to a few pounds short of £1,000 and this will be sent to the Abba’s Rest Orphanage in Malawi.

Geoff Davidson