Challenge Classics
Oboe Passion: Arias & Concertos By J.s. Bach & Sons
$18.99
Details
- Composer
- BACH, J.S. BACH, C.P.E.
- Artist
- P. Oostenrijk, N. Oostenrijk, Baudet, Polman, Ten Have, Swarts, Franenberg, Leenhouts, Henstra, Van
- Format
- SACD
- Label
- Challenge Classics
- Released
- Sep 27, 2011
- Catalog #
- CC72506
- UPC
- 0608917250626
About
This recording has been ‘in the can’ for a long time. Indeed the Bach arias have appeared before on CC 72034, the concertos on the Vanguard Classics label way back around the turn of the century. This attractive double-disc release gives the aria texts in German only at the back of the booklet, and has interesting if largely somewhat anecdotal booklet notes by Pauline Oostenrijk.
Your response to CD 1 will depend a little on whether you fancy the idea of 13 of Bach’s cantata arias for soprano and oboe obbligato taken in isolation and played back to back. It can be a bit much in one sitting, but the programme has been nicely ordered to provide contrast and is packed full of beautiful music. Nienke and Pauline Oostenrijk have performed these works many times before, and their familiarity with and love for these pieces radiates warmly through your speakers. Nienke’s soprano voice is a touch darker than choirboy purity, though it can take on this character at some moments. She uses vibrato in a natural fashion, not throwing it in like an opera diva’s wide wobble, but also not cramping her own style in an attempt to fit some abstract early music performance ideal. There are one or two moments where Bach’s technical demands test her accuracy just a little such as in the energetic Flößt, mein Heiland from the Christmas Oratorio, but there are lovely little touches as well, such as the echo in Liebster Jesu, Mein Verlangen which appears to have been dropped in during post production, the soloist taking up a position somewhere at the back of the church to provide the effect. The soprano voice and oboe are balanced nicely against the continuo harpsichord or organ and, where applicable, strings or other instruments. There are lovely numbers throughout the programme, but my highlights include the pointillist organ and recorders and scrunchy harmonies of Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen, as well as the gorgeous opening track Ich Bin Vergnuegt Mit Meinem Gluecke and the moving Seufer, Tränen, Kummer, Not. There are a few similar collections around, including a very fine but much more large scale and operatic sounding one on the Archiv label with Magdalena Kozená, a comparison with which would be like comparing chalk with marble.
The J.S. Bach oboe concerto overlaps with a couple of recent releases I’ve looked at, from ECM with Heinz Holliger, and with Alexei Ogrintchouk on the BIS label for the BWV 1055 reconstruction. Pauline Oostenrijk’s recording doesn’t really replace either of these, but it is very fine in a fairly laid back sort of way. Her oboe d’amore playing is truly lyrical in the central Larghetto, and the playing is lively if not particularly urgent in the outer movements.
The delicious sound of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta suits Johann Christian Bach’s Mozart-influenced Concerto in F perfectly. This gentle approach obtains maximum tenderness in J.C. Bach’s Larghetto, but I was glad to hear the orchestral articulation and dynamics firming up for elder brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Concerto in E flat. It’s perhaps a little far -fetched to read too much Sturm und Drang into this concerto, which is more pleasantly diverting than filled with the ‘violent mood changes’ which Oostenrijk claims for it in her booklet notes, but there is plenty of that empfindsame expression which characterises C.P.E. Bach’s melodically strong compositional style.
This is a fine brace of re-releases packaged in an attractive SACD hybrid single-thickness double jewel case. The SACD layer is a recent re-mastering, but doesn’t add a huge amount to already more than decent stereo recordings.
-- Dominy Clements, MusicWeb International
Your response to CD 1 will depend a little on whether you fancy the idea of 13 of Bach’s cantata arias for soprano and oboe obbligato taken in isolation and played back to back. It can be a bit much in one sitting, but the programme has been nicely ordered to provide contrast and is packed full of beautiful music. Nienke and Pauline Oostenrijk have performed these works many times before, and their familiarity with and love for these pieces radiates warmly through your speakers. Nienke’s soprano voice is a touch darker than choirboy purity, though it can take on this character at some moments. She uses vibrato in a natural fashion, not throwing it in like an opera diva’s wide wobble, but also not cramping her own style in an attempt to fit some abstract early music performance ideal. There are one or two moments where Bach’s technical demands test her accuracy just a little such as in the energetic Flößt, mein Heiland from the Christmas Oratorio, but there are lovely little touches as well, such as the echo in Liebster Jesu, Mein Verlangen which appears to have been dropped in during post production, the soloist taking up a position somewhere at the back of the church to provide the effect. The soprano voice and oboe are balanced nicely against the continuo harpsichord or organ and, where applicable, strings or other instruments. There are lovely numbers throughout the programme, but my highlights include the pointillist organ and recorders and scrunchy harmonies of Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen, as well as the gorgeous opening track Ich Bin Vergnuegt Mit Meinem Gluecke and the moving Seufer, Tränen, Kummer, Not. There are a few similar collections around, including a very fine but much more large scale and operatic sounding one on the Archiv label with Magdalena Kozená, a comparison with which would be like comparing chalk with marble.
The J.S. Bach oboe concerto overlaps with a couple of recent releases I’ve looked at, from ECM with Heinz Holliger, and with Alexei Ogrintchouk on the BIS label for the BWV 1055 reconstruction. Pauline Oostenrijk’s recording doesn’t really replace either of these, but it is very fine in a fairly laid back sort of way. Her oboe d’amore playing is truly lyrical in the central Larghetto, and the playing is lively if not particularly urgent in the outer movements.
The delicious sound of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta suits Johann Christian Bach’s Mozart-influenced Concerto in F perfectly. This gentle approach obtains maximum tenderness in J.C. Bach’s Larghetto, but I was glad to hear the orchestral articulation and dynamics firming up for elder brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Concerto in E flat. It’s perhaps a little far -fetched to read too much Sturm und Drang into this concerto, which is more pleasantly diverting than filled with the ‘violent mood changes’ which Oostenrijk claims for it in her booklet notes, but there is plenty of that empfindsame expression which characterises C.P.E. Bach’s melodically strong compositional style.
This is a fine brace of re-releases packaged in an attractive SACD hybrid single-thickness double jewel case. The SACD layer is a recent re-mastering, but doesn’t add a huge amount to already more than decent stereo recordings.
-- Dominy Clements, MusicWeb International
Tracklist 22 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Aria: Ich bin vergnugt mit meinem Glucke 05:16
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Aria: Ich bin vergnugt mit meinem Glucke
- Duration
- 05:16
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
2 Aria: Ich esse mit Freuden mein weniges Brot 04:16
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Aria: Ich esse mit Freuden mein weniges Brot
- Duration
- 04:16
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
3 Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32: Aria: Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen 04:57
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32: Aria: Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen
- Duration
- 04:57
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
4 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part IV: Aria: Flosst, mein Heiland, flosst dein Namen 05:12
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part IV: Aria: Flosst, mein Heiland, flosst dein Namen
- Duration
- 05:12
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
5 Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1: Aria: Erfullet, ihr himmlischen gottlichen Flammen 03:45
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1: Aria: Erfullet, ihr himmlischen gottlichen Flammen
- Duration
- 03:45
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
6 Ich hatte viel Bekummernis, BWV 21: Aria: Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, Noth 04:11
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Ich hatte viel Bekummernis, BWV 21: Aria: Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, Noth
- Duration
- 04:11
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
7 Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, Part I: Aria: Ich nehme mein Leiden mit Freuden auf mich 04:27
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, Part I: Aria: Ich nehme mein Leiden mit Freuden auf mich
- Duration
- 04:27
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
8 Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten, BWV 93: Aria: Ich will auf den Herren schaun 02:05
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten, BWV 93: Aria: Ich will auf den Herren schaun
- Duration
- 02:05
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
9 Nimm was dein ist, und gehe hin, BWV 144: Aria: Genugsamkeit ist ein Schatz in diesem Leben 02:40
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Nimm was dein ist, und gehe hin, BWV 144: Aria: Genugsamkeit ist ein Schatz in diesem Leben
- Duration
- 02:40
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
10 Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74: Aria: Komm, komm, mein Herze steht dir offen 03:08
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74: Aria: Komm, komm, mein Herze steht dir offen
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
11 Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott, BWV 127: Aria: Die Seele ruht in Jesu Handen 06:06
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott, BWV 127: Aria: Die Seele ruht in Jesu Handen
- Duration
- 06:06
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra, Paul Leenhouts, Karel van Steenhoven
-
12 Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105: Aria: Wie zittern und wanken 05:29
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105: Aria: Wie zittern und wanken
- Duration
- 05:29
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
-
13 Der Himmel lacht, die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31: Aria: Letzte Stunde, brich herein 03:50
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Der Himmel lacht, die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31: Aria: Letzte Stunde, brich herein
- Duration
- 03:50
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Nienke Oostenrijk, Pauline Oostenrijk, Remy Baudet, Franc Polman, Wim ten Have, Lucia Swarts, Robert Franenberg, Siebe Henstra
- Disc 2
-
1 I. Allegro 04:24
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro
- Duration
- 04:24
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
2 II. Larghetto 05:00
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Larghetto
- Duration
- 05:00
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
3 III. Allegro ma non tanto 04:04
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Allegro ma non tanto
- Duration
- 04:04
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
4 I. Allegro 07:50
- Track
- 4
- Title
- I. Allegro
- Duration
- 07:50
- Composer
- Johann Christian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
5 II. Larghetto 05:22
- Track
- 5
- Title
- II. Larghetto
- Duration
- 05:22
- Composer
- Johann Christian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
6 III. Tempo di minuetto 04:50
- Track
- 6
- Title
- III. Tempo di minuetto
- Duration
- 04:50
- Composer
- Johann Christian Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
7 I. Allegro 06:26
- Track
- 7
- Title
- I. Allegro
- Duration
- 06:26
- Composer
- Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
8 II. Adagio ma non troppo 07:19
- Track
- 8
- Title
- II. Adagio ma non troppo
- Duration
- 07:19
- Composer
- Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden
-
9 III. Allegro ma non troppo 05:56
- Track
- 9
- Title
- III. Allegro ma non troppo
- Duration
- 05:56
- Composer
- Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- Performer
- Pauline Oostenrijk
- Ensemble
- Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Conductor
- Jaap ter Linden