Bach: Whitsun Cantatas / Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir at Music Hills.com

Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 1. Chorus: 'Erchallet, Ihr Lieder, Erklinget, Ihr Saiten!'
Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 2. Recitative (Bass): 'Wer Mich Liebet, Der Wird Mein Wort Halten'
Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 3. Aria (Bass): 'Heiligste Dreienigkeit'
Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 4. Aria (Tenor): 'O Seelenparadies'
Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 5. Aria/Duet (Soprano, Countertenor): 'Komm, Lass Mich Nicht LÃ¤nger Wart
Cantata No. 172, 'Erschallet, ihr Lieder,' BWV 172 (BC A81): 6. Chorale: 'Von Gott KÃ?Â¶mmt Mir Ein Freudenschein'
Cantata No. 59, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 59 (BC A82): 1. Duet (Soprano, Bass): 'Wer Liebert, Der Wird Mein W
Cantata No. 59, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 59 (BC A82): 2. Recitative (Soprano): 'O Was Sind Das Vor Ehren'
Cantata No. 59, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 59 (BC A82): 3. Chorale: 'Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott'
Cantata No. 59, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 59 (BC A82): 4. Aria (Bass): 'Die Welt Mit Allen KÃ¶nigreichen'
Cantata No. 59, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 59 (BC A82): 5. Chorale: 'Du Heilige Brunst, SÃ¼Ã?er Trost'
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten', Chorus
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Komm, komm, mein Herze steht dir offen', Aria for sop
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Die Wohnung ist bereit', Recitative for alto
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Ich gehe hin, und komm wieder zu euch', Aria for bass
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Kommt! eilet! stimmet Sait' und Lieder', Aria for ten
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Es ist nichts Verdammliches an denen, die in Christo
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Nichts kann mich erretten', Aria for alto
Cantata No. 74, 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,' BWV 74 (BC A83): 'Kein Menschenkind hier auf der Erd', Chorus
Cantata No. 34, 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe,' BWV 34 (BC A84): 'O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe', Chorus
Cantata No. 34, 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe,' BWV 34 (BC A84): 'Herr! unsre Herzen halten dir', Recitative
Cantata No. 34, 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe,' BWV 34 (BC A84): 'Wohl euch, ihr auserwahlten Seelen', Aria for alto
Cantata No. 34, 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe,' BWV 34 (BC A84): 'Erwahlt sich Gott die heil'gen Hutten', Recitative for bass
Cantata No. 34, 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe,' BWV 34 (BC A84): 'Friede uber Israel! Dankt den hochsten Wunderhanden', Choru

Music reviews of Bach: Whitsun Cantatas / Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir

Music Review: Elegance & grace
Rating: 5 Stars

Many Bach performances (I've been part of some) and recordings are plagued by the density of texture and angularity of melody common in much of Bach's opus. On this occasion it is as if the choir, soloists and orchestra do an inticate and graceful dance around these formidable obstacles, and do it without the slighest trace of effort. The music of Bach is often a ballet with sabres and lances, yet it is executed here without reservation or hesitation.

It is clearly obvious that this team loves Bach and is as comfortable with his difficulties as they are with eating or breathing.

These cantatas are not some of the more common or popular ones, however, they demonstrate the incredible consistency of Bach's output.

Inspiring, engaging, delightful, intricate, difficult, in a word--Bach. A fine CD for any Bach collection!

Description of Bach: Whitsun Cantatas / Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir

To be sure, these are exuberant, triumphant Pentecost cantatas that Gardiner's typically energetic style serves well; when called for, however, the conductor and musicians find a smoothness and even delicacy we rarely hear from Gardiner since his move into Romantic territory. A special commendation goes to contralto Bernarda Fink: granted, her voice sounds a bit better suited to operatic Handel than to pious Bach, but the gentle lilt and gracious eloquence she brings to "Wohl euch" in the cantata O ewiges Feuer make listening to that lengthy aria, for once, a mellow pleasure instead of a tedious chore. "Lob und Dank" ("praise and thanks," to quote several of Bach's cantatas) to all concerned for providing some marvelous performances--and for restoring this listener's faith in the potential of this series. --Matthew Westphal