In the spring of 1829, in a Berlin that had been permeated by Romantic fires, Felix Mendelssohn was able to represent, for the first time after J. S. Bach’s death, his St Matthew Passion, an unknown composition at the time, which, however, soon sparked an enormous enthusiasm. One-hundred and ninety years after that memorable rebirth, Bach’s biggest masterpiece never ceased to enthrall the musical world with its musical depth and unparalleled dramatic intensity.