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5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Performance and Sound, 3 May 2011
By Paul Van de Water - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: J.S. Bach - St. John Passion (Audio CD)
This performance aims to replicate the premiere of the St. John Passion on Good Friday 1724--Bach's first full year as Kantor in Leipzig. I find the 1724 version greatly preferable to the 1725 revision, used in some recent recordings, which omits the profound 10-minute long opening chorus "Herr, unser herrscher" ("Lord, our ruler").Although conductor Jos van Veldhoven has concluded that Bach had relatively few musicians at his disposal in 1724, this is not a one-voice-per-part performance. In addition to the six vocal soloists, Veldhoven employs four ripienists to add weight in the choral passages. These small forces clearly don't produce the volume of a large chorus, but they don't sound undernourished either. In fact, one reviewer calls this SACD recording "the best-sounding St. John available on disc." ClassicsToday says, "You won't find better, more deeply committed or finer-sounding renditions anywhere."
The vocalists and instrumentalists of the Netherlands Bach Society are superb. Gerd Turk excels as the evangelist, as does Stephan MacLeod as Christ. Soprano Caroline Stam beautifully performs the great aria "Ich folge dir gliechfalls" ("I follow you likewise"), although I somewhat miss the flute that Bach used in later years. The closing chorus "Ruht wohl" ("Rest in peace") is crystal clear and profoundly moving.
Addendum: In an essay accompanying his performance of the Bach: St. Matthew Passion, van Veldhoven explains that his interpretation has been influenced by Daniel Melamed's 2005 book, Hearing Bach's Passions. After listening to that performance, I was moved to read the Melamed's volume, which I recommend without reservation to all lovers of Bach's passions. In a highly well written and accessible manner, Melamed illuminates many of the current issues surrounding the passions, including their performing forces, place in the liturgy, multiple versions, and what it means to listen to them today.
The original version of this recording included a 192-page book containing the libretto, interpretative essays, and illustrations taken from the collection of the Catharijneconvent museum in Utrecht. According to the Channel Classics website, it appears that this reissue lacks the illustrated book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
I second everything the first reviewer said, 12 Feb 2012
By Phone Owner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: J.S. Bach - St. John Passion (Audio CD)
The best recording of this Passion I've heard. The singers sound like they're in our living room, not veiled behind 44 kHz PCM. A wonderful experience!
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