A New Documentary Celebrates McGegan’s Recording of St. Matthew Passion
Nic McGegan's winter on the podium covered remarkable ground. From a candlelit exploration of Jewish nocturnal rituals to Purcell's songs of desire performed cabaret-style on Valentine's Day, each program, separated by centuries of repertoire, illuminated what McGegan has done for six decades: making audiences hear familiar traditions as if for the first time. Now, as spring arrives, the focus shifts: a documentary that turns the camera on the conductor himself, a landmark recording that captures a defining work of the choral canon, and a run of performances stretching from Seattle to Texas.
Photo credit: Frank Wing Photography
Passion: A Film Celebrating McGegan at 75
In collaboration with Cantata Collective, director Tal Skloot has released the trailer for Passion: A Celebration of Music and Community, a documentary that follows Nic McGegan through the making of the St. Matthew Passion recording — from first rehearsal to final take. The film captures what a concert audience never quite sees: McGegan working through a passage with his players, the ensemble finding its way through Bach's most searching score, the particular chemistry between a conductor and the musicians who have built something together over years. The film not only celebrates McGegan's remarkable multi-recording collaboration with the ensemble, but also his seventy-fifth birthday, marked with a feature by Janos Gereben at the San Francisco Classical Voice.
The full film is coming soon — stay tuned for release details.
The recording arrives alongside it: the St. Matthew Passion, the most ambitious installment yet in McGegan and Cantata Collective's ongoing Bach series with AVIE Records will be released on April 3. The series — which has already produced the St. John Passion, the Mass in B Minor, the Easter Oratorio, and the Magnificat — drew praise from the BBC as "bold and beautifully constructed" from its very first release.
Spring on the Road
In April, McGegan brings Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream to the Seattle Symphony in a highly-anticipated complete incidental music version, performed with two actors, soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists, and the SSO Chorale.
And in San Francisco, on April 10, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra honors McGegan with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2026 Gala, celebrating thirty-five years of profound artistic leadership. According to the San Francisco Classical Voice, this is an occasion not to be missed.
Later in the month, McGegan makes his first visit to the Amarillo Symphony in Texas — performing the monumental Brahms' Requiem, paired with Arvo Pärt's Da Pacem Domine.
A Winter Worth Remembering
McGegan's winter with Philharmonia Baroque opened with a candlelit exploration of Jewish nocturnal traditions spanning centuries and continents — Scholar-in-Residence Francesco Spagnolo reframing familiar assumptions at every turn. The San Francisco Chronicle called it a program that "hit its mark."
In February, he returned to the PBO podium for the Baroque Garland concerts, pairing Handel's Dixit Dominus with Rameau's La Guirlande. Joshua Kosman, writing in "On a Pacific Aisle," called McGegan "probably the best Handel conductor I've ever heard,” reminding us why McGegan has captivated audiences for decades on the podium and left an indelible mark on ensembles across the globe.
Days later, McGegan made his debut with Opera Lafayette — curating Queen of Hearts, a Valentine's revel of love songs, bawdy verse, and craft cocktails. Opera Today praised McGegan as "the consummate performer,” expertly collaborating at the harpsichord while holding the audience rapt with comic poetry readings.
From the Road: A Valentine's revel well worth dressing up for. Nic with soprano Maya Kherani and tenor James Reese at Opera Lafayette's Queen of Hearts in Washington, D.C. on February 12. Photo credit: Jen Packard.
Follow Nic on Instagram
For behind-the-scenes glimpses of life on the podium — rehearsal moments, travel dispatches, and the wit and warmth that make a McGegan concert unlike any other — follow Nic McGegan on Instagram at @nicholasmcgegan. It’s the closest thing to being in the room.
Upcoming Appearances
April 10, 2026
Philharmonia Baroque Gala: Honoring Music Director Emeritus Nicholas McGegan
April 16, 18, 19, 2026
Seattle Symphony — Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream
April 24–25, 2026
Amarillo Symphony — Brahms’ Requiem & Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine
