Bach: Arias and Choruses from the St. Matthew Passion

Bach: Arias and Choruses from the St. Matthew Passion

Bach: Arias and Choruses from the St. Matthew Passion
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Performer: Olaf Bär
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner
Performer: Michael Chance
Performer: English Baroque Soloists
Performer: Ann Monoyios
Performer: Barbara Bonney
Performer: Howard Crook
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1991-02-08
Music Label: Archiv Produktion
Soundtracks:
  1. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 1. Chorus : Kommt, ihr Tochter, helft mir klagen - Chorale : O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig
  2. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 3. Chorale : Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen
  3. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 6. Aria (alto) : Buss und Reu
  4. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 8. Aria (soprano) : Blute nur, du liebes Herz
  5. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 17. Chorale : Ich will hier bei dir stehen
  6. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 20. Aria (Tenore) : Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen - Chorus : So schlafen unsre Sunden ein
  7. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 22. Recitative (Basso): Der heiland fallt vor seinim Vater nieder
  8. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 23. Aria (Basso): Gerne will ich mich bequemen
  9. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 1 : 25. Chorale : Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit
  10. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 39. Aria (Alto) : Erbarme dich, mein Gott
  11. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 42. Aria (Basso) : Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder
  12. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 46. Chorale : Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe
  13. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 52. Aria (Alto) : Konnen Tranen meiner Wangen
  14. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 65. Aria (Basso) : Mache dich, mein Herze, rein
  15. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 67. Recitativo (Soprano, Alto, Tenore, Basso) : Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht - Chorus : Mein Jesu, gute Nacht
  16. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Arias And Choruses: Part 2 : 68. Chorus : Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder

Music reviews of Bach: Arias and Choruses from the St. Matthew Passion

Music Review: a voice teacher and early music fan
Rating: 4 Stars

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE COMPLETE ST. MATTHEW PASSION AND AS SUCH APPLIES TO THE HIGHLIGHTS RECORDING AS WELL!
The St. Matthew Passion is a Sacred Drama created by Bach as an integral part of the Good Friday Vespers in Leipzig where it was first performed around 1727. The elements of it can be placed under distinct headings: narrative element in which the Evangelist(tenor) and Christ(baritone)play the central roles; a lyrical and contemplative element provided by the arias; a meditative and communal element provided by the chorales; and the choruses that comment on events taking place, often at times with almost overwhelming power.

Gardiner's approach to this Passion is fervent and quite theatrical. The forces that Bach required to perform this work is greater than those he assembled for almost any other of his compositions: two choruses, two orchestras and another group of treble voices to sing the cantus firmus of the opening chorus. In this respect Gardiner followed Bach's lead.

The soloists are indeed an impressive group for the most part. Anthony Rolfe Johnson as the Evangelist sings with clarity and all the nuances of a good story teller-Andreas Schmidt makes an eloquent Jesus. Gardiner chooses to share soprano solos between Ann Monoyios and Barbara Bonney and both perform in style; however Monoyios has the more dramatic sounding voice (in my humble opinion).

Gardiner again is into the sharing business that he does frequently on many of hi EARLY recordings, which makes for an uneveness of quality that sometimes is detrimental to the overall production, and it's somewhat true in this work. He shares the alto solos with von Otter and Chance, both of whom have excellent voices, but are completely different in their sound AND interpretations. Chance's interpretations are always highly dramatic and moving, example on this recording being both of his arias, but particularly 'Er Barme Dich' that he sings impeccably and brings one to the point of weeping!

Howard Crook delivers the tenor arias matchlessly, with an admirable feeling for lines. Olaf Bar, bass, sings his solos with an excellent feeling for legato and his soft-grained voice suits this music perfectly.

Lest we forget the terrific performance of the Monteverdi Choir: clean and neatly implemented phrases, clear crisp diction and great emotional investment. Marvelous singing, as per usual.

This ia a fine recording, though I don't think that it measures up to the 1994 Cleobury performance with the King's College choir and an excellent solo line-up; no sharing on this one! For many people who prefer the female sopranos opposed to the boy sopranos, this recording may be preferred. But I tend to think that the King's forces and Kirkby and Chance (with all the alto solos) has the edge!

However, Gardiner puts his individual stamp on everything he directs which involves breathing life into every section of the work and manages to convey the optimlum underlying Bach's profound testament to the Christian faith.
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