Acclaimed baritone David Kravitz to step in to sing Christus in the Irish premiere of James MacMillan St. John Passion on Good Friday afternoon at the National Concert Hall

The National Symphony Orchestra wishes to announce that David Kravitz, praised as ‘a charismatic baritone’ by The New York Times, will step in to sing the role of Christus in the Irish premiere of James MacMillan’s St. John Passion at the National Concert Hall on Good Friday, 18 April 2025. In this, he is replacing Christopher Purves who has withdrawn due to unforeseen personal circumstances. 

James MacMillan’s St. John Passion has been hailed by Rowan Williams as ‘a landmark for contemporary music’. Echoes of Latin motets, Gregorian chant and Bach chorales can be heard alongside Scottish folk accents in this striking, modern re-telling.  

One principal soloist, a baritone, portrays Christ. In this performance, presented as part of the National Symphony Orchestra Season at the National Concert Hall, Chamber Choir Ireland sings the part of the Evangelist with the National Symphony Chorus giving voice to other roles in this dramatic story. 

This performance is presented in association with Chamber Choir Ireland.  

Hailed as ‘a charismatic baritone’ by The New York Times, ‘magnificently stentorian and resonant’ by Opera News, and ‘a first-rate actor’ by Opera magazine, David Kravitz enjoys a busy and varied career in opera houses and concert halls.  

Recent highlights include the world premiere of Jewish-American composer Gerald Cohen’s new song cycle in recital with the Defiant Requiem Foundation; his role debut singing the Millhand in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Boston and at New York’s Carnegie Hall; a Vassal in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung in a concert performance of Act III at the Tanglewood Music Festival under the baton of Andris Nelsons, and Bach’s Coffee Cantata with Boston Baroque.  

For full biography and full concert listings, see NOTES TO EDITORS below. 

Media Queries 

Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra. 

Email: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie 

Mobile: 087 290 4168  

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Friday 18 April 2025, 3.30pm

National Concert Hall 

JAMES MACMILLAN’S ST. JOHN PASSION 

Irish Premiere 

National Symphony Orchestra 

David Hill conductor 

David Kravitz baritone (replacing Christopher Purves) 

National Symphony Chorus  

Chamber Choir Ireland  

 
James MacMillan St. John Passion Irish Premiere  

Presented in association with Chamber Choir Ireland. 

Biography: David Kravitz baritone 

Hailed as ‘a charismatic baritone’ by The New York Times, ‘magnificently stentorian and resonant’ by Opera News, and ‘a first-rate actor’ by Opera magazine, David Kravitz enjoys a busy and varied career in opera houses and concert halls.  

Recent highlights include the world premiere of Jewish-American composer Gerald Cohen’s new song cycle in recital with the Defiant Requiem Foundation; his role debut singing the Millhand in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Boston and at New York’s Carnegie Hall; a Vassal in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung in a concert performance of Act III at the Tanglewood Music Festival under the baton of Andris Nelsons, and Bach’s Coffee Cantata with Boston Baroque.  

Other career highlights include lead roles at Washington National Opera (Davis Miller in the world premiere of Approaching Ali), Chautauqua Opera (Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes), Skylight Music Theatre (Scarpia in Tosca), Opera Santa Barbara (The Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen), Grand Harmonie in Boston (Don Pizarro in Fidelio), Opera Saratoga (Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola), Charlottesville (Ash Lawn) Opera (Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof), Boston Lyric Opera (Abraham in Clemency), Emmanuel Music (Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby), and the New England Philharmonic (Wozzeck in Wozzeck). 

Past engagements include multiple performances with Boston Symphony Orchestra for The Damnation of Faust, Tristan und Isolde, and Schumann’s Neujahrslied; Odyssey Opera in La reine de Saba, and as the Duke of Norfolk in Saint-Saëns' rarely heard Henry VIII. 

Notable other performances included Hours of Freedom in Atlanta and New York’s Zankel Hall with the Defiant Requiem Foundation; Handel’s Messiah with Jacksonville Symphony; Schoenberg’s Ode to Napoleon with the Boston Chamber Music Society; Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with the New England Philharmonic; and Creon and the Messenger in Stravinsky’s Oedipus rex with Emmanuel Music. (End) 

About the National Concert Hall 

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to our National Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Chorus, Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg, as well as providing residence for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all its facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040.    

Faoi an Ceoláras Náisiúnta 

Is institiúid chultúrtha náisiúnta na hÉireann don cheol é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta, a fhreastalaíonn go bródúil ar phobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é i 1981 trí thaibhithe ceoil beo agus cláir shuntasacha oideachais agus chultúrtha. Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus béal dorais le Gairdíní Uíbh Eachach, tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta bródúil as ár gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta, Cór Siansach Náisiúnta, Cór Linn agus Cór na nÓg chomh maith le háit chónaithe a chur ar fáil do réimse eagraíochtaí ceoil eile lena n-áirítear Cór Aireagail Éireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation. Tá sé i gceist faoi láthair athfhorbairt mór á dhéanamh ar na háiseanna go léir mar chuid den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus de Thionscadal Éireann 2040. 

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