Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Bach: Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben; Magnificat / Albrecht, Munich Bach Choir
Oehms Classics

Bach: Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben; Magnificat / Albrecht, Munich Bach Choir

$9.99
$19.99 Save 50%

Details

Composer
BACH, J.S.
Artist
Albrecht
Format
CD
Label
Oehms Classics
Released
Feb 25, 2014
Catalog #
OC1801
UPC
4260330918017

About



BACH Cantata No. 147. Sinfonia in D, BWV 1045. Magnificat in D • Hansjörg Albrecht, cond; Andrea Lauren Brown, Lydia Teuscher (sop); Olivia Vermeulen (alt); Julian Prégardien (ten); Sebastian Noack (bar); Rebekka Hartmann (vn); Munich Bach Ch & O • OEHMS 1801 (58:57)


This disc celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Munich Bach Choir and the Munich Bach Orchestra by the legendary Karl Richter. “Legendary” is a term perhaps too readily bandied about, but in Richter’s case, I think, it’s apt. Richter was the bridge between the monumental pre-World-War-II Bach interpretations and the fleet, light HIP (“historically informed practiced”) style in favor today. Before coming to Munich in 1951 Richter sang in Dresden’s Kreuzchor and served as organist at Leipzig’s St. Thomas Church. In Munich he led the Heinrich Schütz Circle, renaming it the Munich Bach Choir in 1954 and launching a new era, both for Munich and for Bach. His many performances and recordings with the MBC and its companion orchestra made him one of the most influential Bach interpreters of 1950s, 60s, and 70s. His chorus was large by today’s standards, though a far cry from the 200-plus voices sometimes previously assembled for major Bach festivals. His tempos, too, were much more leisurely that those we have come to favor, but he purged the music of the bloat that had been all too common, and he imbued his interpretations with a new intensity. He was never tempted to replace his excellent orchestra with period-instrument specialists. It would be hard to over-estimate the influence of Richter’s Archiv recordings on the evolving scene. But he was swept away by the tsunami of the historically informed tide. He died of a heart attack in 1981, reportedly embittered by his marginalization.


Despite some collective self-doubt, the MBC survived its founder and found new life under the direction of Hanns-Martin Schneidt. Hansjörg Albrecht assumed leadership of the choir in 2005, and like Schneidt has sought to expand the choir’s repertory without diluting its main focus on the music of J. S. Bach.


The new recording finds the choir still in excellent shape—and still large. The roster lists 28 sopranos, 22 altos (all apparently female), just nine tenors, and 17 basses. Whether all sing in these performances is a matter for speculation. The orchestra is much more modest, with a 3-3-2-2-1 string cohort and the necessary winds and continuo. The performances are brisk—every movement in both works is shorter than its counterpart in Richter’s versions. Some skirt the edge of plausibility, but the choir always holds. The soloists are very good or better. It’s a fitting tribute to the founder.


The orchestral sinfonia (still played on modern instruments) that separates the two popular choral works was apparently intended for a cantata now otherwise lost. It’s good to have.


FANFARE: George Chien

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 Chorus: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben 03:59
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chorus: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  2. 2 Accompanied Recitative: Gebenedeiter Mund! (Tenor) 01:34
    Track
    2
    Title
    Accompanied Recitative: Gebenedeiter Mund! (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Julian Prégardien
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  3. 3 Aria: Schame dich, o Seele, nicht (Alto) 03:12
    Track
    3
    Title
    Aria: Schame dich, o Seele, nicht (Alto)
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Olivia Vermeulen
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  4. 4 Recitative: Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden (Bass) 01:33
    Track
    4
    Title
    Recitative: Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden (Bass)
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Sebastian Noack
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  5. 5 Aria: Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn (Soprano) 04:01
    Track
    5
    Title
    Aria: Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn (Soprano)
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Andrea Lauren Brown
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  6. 6 Chorale: Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe 02:38
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chorale: Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  7. 7 Aria: Hilf, Jesu, hilf, dass ich auch dich bekenne (Tenor) 02:42
    Track
    7
    Title
    Aria: Hilf, Jesu, hilf, dass ich auch dich bekenne (Tenor)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Julian Prégardien
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  8. 8 Recitative: Der hochsten Allmacht Wunderhand (Alto) 01:56
    Track
    8
    Title
    Recitative: Der hochsten Allmacht Wunderhand (Alto)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Olivia Vermeulen
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  9. 9 Aria: Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen (Bass) 02:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    Aria: Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen (Bass)
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Sebastian Noack
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  10. 10 Chorale: Jesus bleibet meine Freude 02:42
    Track
    10
    Title
    Chorale: Jesus bleibet meine Freude
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  11. 11 Sinfonia in D Major, BWV 1045: I. Allegro 06:21
    Track
    11
    Title
    Sinfonia in D Major, BWV 1045: I. Allegro
    Duration
    06:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Rebekka Hartmann
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  12. 12 Magnificat anima mea (Chorus) 02:46
    Track
    12
    Title
    Magnificat anima mea (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  13. 13 Et exultavit (Soprano 2) 02:17
    Track
    13
    Title
    Et exultavit (Soprano 2)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Lydia Teuscher
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  14. 14 Quia respexit (Soprano 1) 02:15
    Track
    14
    Title
    Quia respexit (Soprano 1)
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Andrea Lauren Brown
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  15. 15 Omnes generationes (Chorus) 01:13
    Track
    15
    Title
    Omnes generationes (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  16. 16 Quia fecit mihi magna (Bass) 01:46
    Track
    16
    Title
    Quia fecit mihi magna (Bass)
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Sebastian Noack
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  17. 17 Et misericordia (Alto, Tenor) 03:08
    Track
    17
    Title
    Et misericordia (Alto, Tenor)
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Olivia Vermeulen, Julian Prégardien
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  18. 18 Fecit potentiam (Chorus) 01:43
    Track
    18
    Title
    Fecit potentiam (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  19. 19 Deposuit potentes (Tenor) 01:51
    Track
    19
    Title
    Deposuit potentes (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Julian Prégardien
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  20. 20 Esurientes (Alto) 02:52
    Track
    20
    Title
    Esurientes (Alto)
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Olivia Vermeulen
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  21. 21 Suscepit Israel (Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto) 01:24
    Track
    21
    Title
    Suscepit Israel (Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto)
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Andrea Lauren Brown, Lydia Teuscher, Olivia Vermeulen
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  22. 22 Sicut locutus est (Chorus) 01:24
    Track
    22
    Title
    Sicut locutus est (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht
  23. 23 Gloria Patri (Chorus) 01:56
    Track
    23
    Title
    Gloria Patri (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester
    Conductor
    Hansjörg Albrecht