16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Looking for 'the best performance'? Don't miss Koopman's!, 3 Jan 2001
By Michel Couzijn - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach: St John Passion [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
In The Netherlands, a very Bach-loving country, Ton Koopman is regarded as 'Mr. Bach'. If you haven't heard performances of Bach's music by Koopman before, this John Passion is a great way to start acquiring a Koopman addiction. His approach is not very idiosyncratic (as was Harnoncourt's), but it is definitely 'authentic' and concentrated, in a way that pays properly due to musicality and emotion. The sound in this recording is highly transparent, but not dry. The tempi are such that you can follow both the passion story unfold and Bach's musical lines develop. Right from the start the strings and wind instruments will catch your breath and Koopman won't leave you alone for the next two hours. If you are looking for 'the best performance' of the John Passion, you should defnitely not leave Koopman's contribution from your wish list.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Koopman, a genius, 10 Mar 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach: St John Passion [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
The articulation and emotion of this performance is wonderful. If you are looking for an authentic recording of one of Bach's greatest works, then this one is for you! You might also check out the other recordings of Bach done by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Bach lover, 18 Nov 2002
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach: St John Passion [IMPORT] (Audio CD)
It's hard to go wrong with Koopman. This is a beautiful recording, with great sensitivity shown in many finely wrought and shaped musical phrases. (By the way, don't buy ANY John Gardiner Bach, they are absurdly too fast in tempi, articulated like a loud ticking clock, and phrases are rarely shaped.) This may be the best available recording of this wonderful work, which has been neglected in the shadow of the St. Matthew Passion. The other fine version is by Karl Ritcher, I believe.
But you will not regret buying this marvelous one.