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BIS

Bach: Cantatas Vol 12 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

$21.99

Details

Composer
BACH, J.S.
Artist
Yukari, Su, Peter, Nonoshita, Robin, Kooij, Bach Collegium Japan, Blaze
Format
CD
Label
BIS
Released
Feb 01, 2000
Catalog #
BIS-CD-1031
UPC
7318590010310

About

The astonishing variety of Bach’s cantatas is brilliantly illustrated by these CDs. Vol. 12 of Masaaki Suzuki’s ongoing cycle features a pair of extended, two-part cantatas: BWV 147, best-known for its lovely chorale (aka ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’), and BWV 21, described by Nicholas Anderson as having ‘a dramatic intensity hardly inferior... to that of the two great Passions’. Both cantatas have their origins in Bach’s Weimar period but are presented here in their later, Leipzig versions.

As is to be expected from Suzuki, the performances are meticulous and sensitive, and he brings out each cantata’s different emotional character with quiet authority. BWV 21 is particularly impressive, his team breathing vivid life into Bach’s portrayal of the Soul’s journey from darkest night to heavenly bliss. In contrast to this spiritual introspection, Philippe Herreweghe’s excellent disc features three cantatas Bach wrote for the annual inauguration of the Leipzig town council. This is public-event music, ablaze with ceremonial splendour: the earliest cantata, 1723’s BWV 119, begins with a French overture and is among the most richly scored of all the cantatas. The other two follow suit, jubilant choruses and brass fanfares proclaiming civic pride, though Bach takes care to balance this pomp with more delicate colours in the arias. Funeral music, yet another facet of the Cantor’s output, is explored on John Eliot Gardiner’s newly reissued 1989 recording. The deft vocal interweavings of the Actus tragicus and the Trauer Ode’s lavish salute to the Electress Christiane are adeptly handled by Gardiner, whose (relatively) small forces give the music a rapt, devotional air. In this company, Stephen Cleobury’s King’s College double seems lacklustre. The programme, which mixes major works with miniatures and extracts, is cluttered, the latter pieces merely distractions. Performances, while good, rarely match the precisely focused, sharply etched flair so evident on the Herreweghe and Suzuki discs. Performance: 5 (out of 5), Sound: 5 (out of 5)

-- BBC Music Magazine

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. 1 Chorus: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben 04:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chorus: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
    Duration
    04:13
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  2. 2 Accompanied Recitative: Gebenedeiter Mund! (Tenor) 01:48
    Track
    2
    Title
    Accompanied Recitative: Gebenedeiter Mund! (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  3. 3 Aria: Schame dich, o Seele, nicht (Alto) 04:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    Aria: Schame dich, o Seele, nicht (Alto)
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  4. 4 Recitative: Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden (Bass) 01:28
    Track
    4
    Title
    Recitative: Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden (Bass)
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  5. 5 Aria: Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn (Soprano) 04:14
    Track
    5
    Title
    Aria: Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn (Soprano)
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  6. 6 Chorale: Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe 03:00
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chorale: Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  7. 7 Aria: Hilf, Jesu, hilf, dass ich auch dich bekenne (Tenor) 02:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    Aria: Hilf, Jesu, hilf, dass ich auch dich bekenne (Tenor)
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  8. 8 Recitative: Der hochsten Allmacht Wunderhand (Alto) 02:13
    Track
    8
    Title
    Recitative: Der hochsten Allmacht Wunderhand (Alto)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  9. 9 Aria: Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen (Bass) 02:46
    Track
    9
    Title
    Aria: Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen (Bass)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  10. 10 Chorale: Jesus bleibet meine Freude 03:01
    Track
    10
    Title
    Chorale: Jesus bleibet meine Freude
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  11. 11 Sinfonia 03:02
    Track
    11
    Title
    Sinfonia
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  12. 12 Chorus: Ich hatte viel Bekummernis in meinem Herzen 04:01
    Track
    12
    Title
    Chorus: Ich hatte viel Bekummernis in meinem Herzen
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  13. 13 Aria: Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, Not (Soprano) 04:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    Aria: Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, Not (Soprano)
    Duration
    04:30
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  14. 14 Recitative: Wie hast du dich, mein Gott (Tenor) 01:43
    Track
    14
    Title
    Recitative: Wie hast du dich, mein Gott (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  15. 15 Aria: Bache von gesalznen Zahren (Tenor) 05:50
    Track
    15
    Title
    Aria: Bache von gesalznen Zahren (Tenor)
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  16. 16 Soli/Chorus: Was betrubst du dich, meine Seele 03:21
    Track
    16
    Title
    Soli/Chorus: Was betrubst du dich, meine Seele
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  17. 17 Recitative: Ach Jesu, meine Ruh (Soprano / Bass) 01:22
    Track
    17
    Title
    Recitative: Ach Jesu, meine Ruh (Soprano / Bass)
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  18. 18 Aria Duetto: Komm mein Jesu, und erquicke (Soprano / Bass) 03:56
    Track
    18
    Title
    Aria Duetto: Komm mein Jesu, und erquicke (Soprano / Bass)
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  19. 19 Soli/Chorus: Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele 04:29
    Track
    19
    Title
    Soli/Chorus: Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  20. 20 Aria: Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze (Tenor) 02:33
    Track
    20
    Title
    Aria: Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze (Tenor)
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
  21. 21 Chorus: Das Lamm, das erwurget ist 03:09
    Track
    21
    Title
    Chorus: Das Lamm, das erwurget ist
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach