On Friday, August 28, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)’s St. Matthew Passion oratorio premiered with great success at the August Traiana open concert venue in Stara Zagora in central Bulgaria.
The music was performed by the choir and orchestra of the State Opera Theater of Stara Zagora, under the direction of His Eminence Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, reports the Bulgarian outlet Darik News.
The concert was timed to coincide with the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on the old calendar, as celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church.
“This is very beautiful Baroque music, reminiscent of the music of Bach,” Met. Cyprian said.
Bulgarian music critics praised Met. Hilarioin’s oratorio, calling it a “magnificent spiritual revelation.”