TRAINING and discipline are the words that crop up when director of music Geraint Bowen talks about the run-up to this year's St John Passion, to be performed in Hereford Cathedral on April 6.

The distinguished line-up of international soloists, who performed last year, returns - something of a commendation in itself.

The draw of the Hereford Passion - one of a handful outside of the capital - is that it is performed in German, by a choir of men and boys, as Bach intended.

When I ask how he intends to surpass last year's rendition, he answers that the challenge is to make it, as far as possible, the same - in terms of standard at least.

Boys aged nine or 10, who were singing at junior level two years ago, will now be leading - and they've been eyeing the scores hungrily during recent rehearsals.

Passionate about both of Bach's Passion settings, it is music on which he has been brought up.

Between the age of seven and 15, he would have heard his father, celebrated soloist Kenneth Bowen, sing in either one at this time of year.

"It's a love of mine, and a personal challenge to make it sound as German as possible," he said. "Until relatively recently, it would have been acceptable for a performance like this to be in English."

Since arriving in post at Hereford Cathedral in September 2001, he has thought about staging Bach's St John.

"The first time you perform the piece with a choir you need to plan very carefully over a number of weeks. Now the aim is to keep it in the repertoire, it's less of a headache."

The fast moving, dramatic work tells the story of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion and was first performed in Leipzig in 1724.

"The music speaks for itself," Geraint said.

Although not learning German at school, the boys know the interpretation of what they are singing.

"I aim to get it into the blood. For a performance that comes around once a year, their attention is amazing," Geraint said.

But the choir is only half of the story, accompanied as it is by an excellent orchestra of professional musicians - many of whom teach the boys - led by Nic Fallowfield.

Connection

Many of the soloists have a local connection.

Nathan Vale (tenor) began his musical education as a boy chorister at Hereford Cathedral under Dr Roy Massey. Based in London, he regularly performs in the county, last appearing at the Three Choirs Festival last summer.

Jonathan Arnold was a choral scholar in Hereford Cathedral Choir and went on to study at Oxford and the Royal Academy of Music. He performed as soloist at the Hereford Three Choirs' performance of Bach's Magnificat.

Lucy Bowen performs regularly with the Hereford Choral Society, and also sang in the Three Choirs' performance of Bach's Magnificat.

Rogers Covey-Crump is a member of the Hilliard Ensemble, known for its acclaimed album Officium with the saxophonist, Jan Garbarek.

Highly sought after as an evangelist in the Passion settings of Bach, he has recorded them with Andrew Parrott, Stephen Cleobury and Roy Goodman.

As well as two previous performances of this work with the cathedral choir, he took part in a performance at the 2000 Hereford Three Choirs Festival.

James Bowman is one of the world's most celebrated countertenors, in a career lasting over 35 years. He has appeared the world over on both concert and opera stage and has made over 150 recordings, including four of Messiah, and the complete church music of Henry Purcell with the King's Consort.

Colin Campbell has appeared as a soloist throughout the UK, including with Hereford Choral Society, and at numerous festivals worldwide.

Having started his career as a chorister at Ely, he has retained a strong link with choral tradition.

Tickets are available from The Outback, Church Street, Hereford, or on 01432 271990.