As Passion Weekend unfolds, Classic 107 invites listeners into one of the most profound and moving journeys in the sacred music calendar. From the solemn depths of Good Friday to the radiant joy of Easter Sunday, this special programming traces the emotional and spiritual arc of the Passion story through some of the greatest choral and orchestral works ever written. Whether you’re tuning in for reflection, tradition, or simply extraordinary music-making, here’s what audiences can expect across Passion Weekend on Classic 107. GOOD FRIDAY — APRIL 3 Good Friday programming is steeped in contemplation, drawing listeners into the drama and sorrow of the crucifixion. 8:00 AM — Healey Willan: Tenebrae for Good Friday Performed by the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), led by Robert Hunter Bell Canadian composer Healy Willan created some of the most profound Anglican liturgical music of the 20th century. His Tenebrae settings reflect the ancient Holy Week service in which candles are gradually extinguished, symbolizing the growing darkness of the Passion. The music is rich, meditative, and deeply atmospheric. 9:00 AM — Johann Sebastian Bach: St. John Passion Performed by Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stephen Varcoe, Cornelius Hauptmann, Nancy Argenta, Ruth Holton, Michael Chance, Neill Archer, Rufus Müller The English Baroque Soloists, The Monteverdi Choir, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner Bach’s St. John Passion is one of the most gripping musical depictions of the crucifixion ever composed. Written in 1724, it combines dramatic storytelling with deeply personal reflection, moving seamlessly between turbulent choruses and intimate arias. 1:00 PM — Joseph Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ Performed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Concentus Musicus Wien with the Arnold Schönberg Choir Haydn’s Seven Last Words offers seven meditative movements, each reflecting one of Christ’s final utterances. Originally composed for a Good Friday service, the work is notable for its stillness, restraint, and emotional depth. 7:00 PM — George Frederic Handel: La Resurrezione (Part 1) Performed by Les Musiciens du Louvre, conducted by Marc Minkowski Handel’s early oratorio captures the drama between crucifixion and resurrection with operatic flair. Even in its sacred context, the music is vivid, theatrical, and full of momentum. Audiences can learn more about this on Weekend at the Opera with Nolan Kehler and Paul Bruch-Wiens of Quadrant Private Wealth. HOLY SATURDAY — APRIL 4 A day of quiet anticipation, Holy Saturday’s programming bridges grief and hope, moving gradually toward light. 9:00 AM — Hans Leo Hassler: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden Performed by the Margaretha Consort under Marit Broekroelofs This chorale melody by Hans Leo Hassler became one of the most enduring musical symbols of the Passion, later woven into Bach’s Passions. 9:07 AM — Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Rosary Sonatas Nos. 7 & 8 Performed by Alan Choo with Apollo’s Fire These virtuosic violin works depict the Scourging and Crowning with Thorns, using striking musical imagery and inventive technique. 9:19 AM — Johann Sebastian Bach: “Kommt, ihr Töchter” from St. Matthew Passion Performed by The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner This monumental opening chorus sets the tone for one of Bach’s greatest works—layered, mournful, and profoundly moving. 9:28 AM — Healey Willan: Tenebrae for Holy Saturday Performed by the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), led by Robert Hunter Bell A continuation of Willan’s Tenebrae settings, this work deepens the stillness and solemnity before Easter dawn. 9:34 AM — Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture Performed by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra This colourful orchestral work draws on Russian Orthodox chant and bursts with celebratory energy, hinting at the joy to come. 9:49 AM — Josef Bohuslav Foerster: Symphony No. 4 “Easter Eve” (Final Movement) Performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lance Friedel A rarely heard gem, this music radiates hope and spiritual renewal, marking the transition toward Easter. EASTER SUNDAY — APRIL 5 Easter morning brings brilliance, joy, and celebration—the culmination of Passion Weekend. Celebrate it with us on White Light with Nolan Kehler, presented without commercial interruption by Triple E Recreational Vehicles and Lode King Industries. 6:30 AM — Francis Poulenc: Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence Performed by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, conducted by Simon Preston Poulenc blends Renaissance-inspired clarity with modern harmonies in these luminous motets. 7:00 AM — Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria, RV 588 Performed by the Aradia Ensemble under Kevin Mallon One of the most joyful works in the sacred repertoire, Vivaldi’s Gloria sparkles with energy and exuberance. 10:00 AM — Johann Sebastian Bach: Easter Oratorio Performed by Hannah Morrison, Meg Bragle, Nicholas Mulroy, Peter Harvey Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner Bach’s Easter Oratorio is a jubilant celebration of the Resurrection, filled with festive brilliance and uplifting spirit. 4:00 PM — George Frederic Handel: La Resurrezione (Part 2) Performed by Les Musiciens du Louvre, conducted by Marc Minkowski The conclusion of Handel's hybrid oratorio-opera sees the true resurrection take shape on Weekend at the Opera. Stream us all weekend long to experience Passion Weekend through the timeless beauty of sacred music.