Sir Simon Rattle left no doubt: for him, the performance of the St. Matthew Passionwhich he realized with the Berlin Philharmonics and the Rundfunkchor Berlin in 2010, is “the most important thing we have ever done here”. Critics around the world agreed with him. They praised the outstanding musical interpretation by the soloists, choir and orchestra as well as the semi-staged performance by director Peter Sellars. However, although he brings powerful images to the stage, the dramatic effect is by no means the main focus. “It’s not theater”, says Sellars, “it’s a prayer, a meditation”. Making this tangible is the real aim of this haunting performance.