Lasting three hours, JS Bach’s St Matthew Passion is a monumental work.

But time itself seemed to stand still during a captivating performance by Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus, under conductor Thomas Zehetmair, at Sage Gateshead.

From the opening bars, Zehetmair maintained a steady flowing pace that drew the audience into the unfolding drama depicting the last hours of Jesus’ life and death.

The choir was in characteristic top form and was joined by strong cast of soloists, not least being tenor James Oxley, who as Evangelist drove the narrative forward with an engaging dynamism.

Countertenor Christopher Ainslie invested Buss und Reu with an aching beauty – sensitively accompanied by flautists Juliette Bausor and Eilidh Gillespie.

His Erbarme Dich, backed by lachrymose tones of leader Bradley Creswick, had some fighting back tears.

Soprano Mhairi Lawson's voice had a ringing clarity and soared to the heavens in Blute nur.

The viola da gamba was played with warmth and expression by Reiko Ichise. 

Baritone Benjamim Bevan, who stood in for Samuel Evans, provided one of the highlights in his last bass aria, Mache Dich, mein Herze Rein, while Nicholas Merryweather was an authoritative Christ.

Zehetmair drew all the components together with attentive care to every orchestral detail, maintaining a long and reverential silence at the end of a beautiful concluding chorus.

A memorable performance.