The Great Passion: Fenella Humphreys (violin) and James Runcie (author)

James Runcie’s latest 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, outstanding violinist Fenella Humphreys — in her fourth visit to Chiltern Arts — is joined on stage by James Runcie: his readings from his work and insightful commentary are intertwined with Fenella’s playing of selected Bach pieces for solo violin.