20 - The Great Passion : Fenella Humphreys and James Runcie

James Runcie’s novel, The Great Passion, tells the story of young Stefan Silbermann, sent to train as a singer in Leipzig under the Cantor Johann Sebastian Bach. Based on true events, Stefan lives with the Bach family through joyful chaos and heart-rending tragedy and witnesses the creation of some of Bach’s greatest works - most notably the great St Matthew Passion.

In this beautiful collaboration, James is joined by the award-winning violinist Fenella Humphreys. Readings from his work and insightful commentary are intertwined with Fenella’s playing of selected Bach pieces for solo violin, including her own special arrangement of the famous Toccata and Fugue BWV 565 and the heartbreaking Partita in D Minor.