Bach: Cantatas Vol 21 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

$15.99
Label
BIS
Release Date
March 1, 2003
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, J.S.
    • PERFORMER
      Masaaki, Peter, Suzuki, James, Kooij, Bach Collegium Japan, Gilchrist
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      March 01, 2003
    • UPC
      7318590013113
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BIS-CD-1311
    • LABEL
      BIS
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Choral - Sacred
    Works ⌄

    1. Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen (Chorus)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    2. Chorale: Die Kon'ge aus Saba kamen dar

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    3. Recitative: Was dort Jesaias vorhergesehn (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    4. Aria: Gold aus Ophir ist zu schlecht (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    5. Recitative: Verschmahe nicht (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    6. Aria: Nimm mich dir zu eigen hin (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    7. Chorale: Ei nun, mein Gott, so fall ich dir

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    8. Aria: Jesus schlaft, was soll ich hoffen? (Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, Robin Blaze, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    9. Recitative: Herr, warum trittest du so ferne? (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Peter Kooij, Robin Blaze, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    10. Aria: Die schaumenden Wellen von Belials Bachen (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    11. Arioso: Ihr Kleinglaubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam? (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    12. Aria: Schweig, aufgeturmtes Meer! (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    13. Recitative: Wohl mir, mein Jesus spricht ein Wort (Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    14. Chorale: Unter deinen Schirmen

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij, James Gilchrist

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    15. Aria: Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    16. Aria and Recitative: Herr, nun lassest du deinen Diener (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    17. Aria: Eile, Herz, voll Freudigkeit (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    18. Recitative: Ja, merkt dein Glaube (Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    19. Chorale: Er ist das Heil und selig Licht

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    20. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied! (Chorus)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    21. Chorale and Recitative: Herr Gott, dich loben wir (Bass, Tenor, Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    22. Aria: Lobe, Zion, deinen Gott (Alto)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    23. Recitative: Es wunsche sich die Welt (Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    24. Aria (Duet): Jesus soll mein alles sein (Tenor, Bass)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    25. Recitative: Nun, Jesus gebe (Tenor)

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: James Gilchrist, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki

    26. Chorale: Lass uns das Jahr vollbringen

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

      Performer: Robin Blaze, James Gilchrist, Peter Kooij

      Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki


The four cantatas of Volume 21 were written earlier in the year––No. 190 for New Year’s Day, No. 65 for Epiphany, No. 81 for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany, and No. 83 for Candelmas (the feast of the Purification of the Virgin). BWV 65 is a splendid cantata, richly scored with pairs of corni da caccia, oboes da caccia, and recorders (in addition to the usual strings and continuo), as befits a commemoration of the arrival of the three kings. In addition to the brilliant opening chorus, there is a memorable aria for tenor. In Cantatas 81 and 83, the chorus is limited to the concluding chorales, the narrative being carried forth in arias for alto, tenor, and bass. The men’s arias in BWV 81 deal with raging waters, but in the bass aria, Jesus’s command for the sea to subside does not result in a corresponding calming of the musical argument. The New Year’s cantata, BWV 190, is––or should be––even more resplendent than No. 65, calling for three trumpets (with kettledrums), three oboes, and an oboe d’amore. Unfortunately, the surviving score is even more compromised than that of BWV 59––to the extent that Harnoncourt and Leonhardt omitted it from their series. For the BIS series, however, Suzuki includes a first movement reconstructed by his son, Masato, and a second movement of his own devising. For interested listeners, a detailed description of the process is included in the notes. Purists, of course, can skip the reconstructed movements, but it seems unlikely that most listeners will want to do so after hearing them.

Some general notes: after Maestro Suzuki himself, the closest thing to a constant in the series remains Peter Kooij’s steady bass. The leading soprano is now Yukari Nonoshita, whose clear, near white tone is entirely appropriate for Bach’s music. Tenors come and go; note that four different tenors, all satisfactory, appear on these four discs. Suzuki continues to alternate between male or female altos depending on the specific task at hand. The soloists participate in the chorus but do not sing alone. Western names have become quite rare in the list of performers, with Japanese musicians handling most parts, vocal and instrumental, with their by-now-accustomed excellence. The notes remain exemplary, but Klaus Hofmann now shares that task with Suzuki, whose function is generally to explain his decisions regarding problems with the performing editions. As always, BIS’s recordings are first-rate.

I thought I detected a hint of fatigue when I got to Cantata 83, but wasn’t sure whether to attribute it to a harried composer or a hyperactive interpreter––or to an ear-weary listener. Frankly, it may well have been the third. At any rate, everyone seemed to have revived by the time I got to Volume 22 and the second cycle. Of course, I’m going to urge interested listeners to acquire [this disc]. Bach and Suzuki are still one of the best tandems going.

-- George Chien, FANFARE - FANFARE