John Debney – The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event

John Debney – The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event presents a powerful live concert adaptation of the music from The Passion of the Christ, expanding the Oscar®-nominated film score into a sweeping sacred work for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Composed by John Debney, the oratorio transforms the original cinematic themes into a transcendent concert experience designed to stand on its own as a devotional and musical journey.

Performed in the historic Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, the event features Debney’s original concert arrangement alongside an extraordinary ensemble, including lyricist/vocalist Lisbeth Scott, worldwind soloist Pedro Eustache, the Ziryab Choir, and the Córdoba Orchestra under the direction of Kevin Kaska. Additional solo performances by tenor Juan Luque and soprano Maria Alonso enrich the presentation, blending Middle Eastern textures, choral grandeur, and symphonic depth into a deeply spiritual performance space more than a thousand years old.

The release coincides with the 15th anniversary of The Passion of the Christ, whose score became a gold-selling album and earned an Academy Award® nomination. Director Mel Gibson praised the expanded concert work, stating that Debney’s music “transcends its orchestrations to speak straight to the heart and soul, like a prayer.” The oratorio has been performed internationally, including a landmark presentation in Rome that received recognition from Archbishop Foley of the Vatican, underscoring the work’s global and interfaith resonance.

Directed by Ray Costa, The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event captures a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience–an emotionally charged fusion of cinema, sacred tradition, and live performance that elevates Debney’s celebrated score into a monumental choral symphony.