British soprano and Baroque specialist Catherine Bott performs “Zerfließe, mein Herze” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passio secundum Joannem or St John Passion (German: Johannes-Passion), BWV 245, a Passion or oratorio, the older of the surviving Passions by Bach (first performed on April 7, 1724). Brandenberg Consort conducted by Stephen Cleobury. Recorded at the King’s College Cambridge.
Zerfließe, mein Herze text
German text
Zerfleiße, mein Herze, in Fluten der Zähren
Dem Höchsten zu Ehren!
Erzähle der Welt und dem Himmel die Not:
Dein Jesus ist tot!
English translation
Dissolve, my heart, in floods of tears
to honor the Highest!
Tell the world and heaven the anguish:
Your Jesus is dead!
Catherine Bott
Catherine Bott (born 11 September 1952) is a British soprano and a Baroque specialist.
She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and then spent two years singing everything from Bach to Berio with the Swingles before beginning her solo career.
Bott is recognized as a virtuoso of early music: among her many recordings in this field are Bach’s St. John Passion with the Choir of King’s College (the performance above was taken from that concert), Cambridge, Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the Academy of Ancient Music.

She has also premiered and recorded works by contemporary composers Craig Armstrong, Jonathan Dove, Michael Nyman, and Errollyn Wallen.
Catherine Bott’s CD releases include a cabaret recital, London Pride, for Hyperion – “an utter delight, outstanding” (International Record Review) – and a collection of Spanish and Moorish songs and poetry, Convivencia, for the innovative new Fred label – “a rare commitment worthy of spoken theatre” (Gramophone).
Sources
- Catherine Bott on Wikipedia
- St John Passion on Wikipedia
- Catherine Bott official website