Unlike Bach’s other oratorio compositions, there is no definitive version of the St. John Passion. The first version of 1724 which is today’s standard version represents a mixture of different readings. The second version of 1725 was performed under the direction of Bach himself and can therefore be considered authentic. In addition to a change in order of several movements, the second version differs from the earlier version by the use of the opening chorus “O Mensch, bewein”.

The performance material corresponds to the Urtext edition of Version II which was recently published as part of the “New Bach Edition – Revised” (NBArev).