Mendelssohn's Bach St Matthew Passion: R3 in Concert 13 February

[doversoul1]

Recorded at Milton Court in London, Peter Dijkstra conducts the BBC Singers and St James' Baroque in a performance of Mendelssohn's orchestration of JS Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Nicholas Mulroy (tenor) Evangelist
Bragi Jónsson(bass) Christus
BBC Singers
St James' Baroque
Peter Dijkstra (conductor)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09r4dlp

I wonder which history the performance will be being (?) informed: Bach/St James' Baroque or Mendelssohn/BBC Singers?

[BBMmk2]

I wonder to DS! Could it the BBC Singers performing the Mendelssohn/J S Bach? I think it could be that?

[vinteuil]

I wonder which history the performance will be being (?) informed: Bach/St James' Baroque or Mendelssohn/BBC Singers?

... I feel sure they will (both) be striving to produce a Historically Informed Performance in the light of the 1829 Mendelssohn take on this work. We should expect the sound world of 1829 rather than that of 1727.

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[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is there a reason why the BBC Singers appear to be in "everything" these days?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There was someone being interviewed yesterday, who said Bach's music had been neglected for 150 years before Mendelssohn came along.

Where do they find these people?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... I feel sure they will (both) be striving to produce a Historically Informed Performance in the light of the 1829 Mendelssohn take on this work. We should expect the sound world of 1829 rather than that of 1727.

I wonder if they're going to attempt a reconstruction of the actual performing forces, or Mendelssohn's original intention to use smaller numbers of performers?

[vinteuil]

.

... and will they cut the ten arias and seven choruses as he did?

From wiki :

"In 1824 Felix Mendelssohn's maternal grandmother Lea Salomon had given him a transcript of the score of the Passion. Carl Friedrich Zelter had been head of the Sing-Akademie since 1800. He had been hired to teach music theory to both Felix Mendelssohn and his sister Fanny. Zelter had a supply of J. S. Bach scores and was an admirer of Bach's music but he was reticent about any public performances.

When Felix Mendelssohn was preparing his revival performance of the Passion in 1829 in Berlin (the first performance outside Leipzig), he cut out "ten arias (about a third of them), seven choruses (about half), [but] only a few of the chorales," which "emphasized the drama of the Passion story ... at the expense of the reflective and Italianate solo singing."

In 1827 Felix and a few friends began weekly sessions to rehearse the Passion. One of the group was Eduard Devrient, a baritone and since 1820 one of the principal singers at the Berlin Royal Opera. Around December 1828-January 1829 Devrient persuaded Felix that the two of them should approach Zelter to get the Sing-Akademie to support their project. Devrient was especially enthusiastic, hoping to sing the part of Jesus as he eventually did. Zelter was reluctant but eventually gave his approval; that of the Singakademie board followed.

Once the fuller group of singers and the orchestra were brought in, Devrient recalled, participants were amazed at "the abundance of melodies, the rich expression of emotion, the passion, the singular style of declamation, and the force of the dramatic action." The 20-year-old Felix himself conducted the rehearsals and first two performances by the Singakademie."

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

They should if the intention is to reproduce "Mendelssohn's Bach": a presentation of what audiences in 1829 would have heard.

[doversoul1]

They should if the intention is to reproduce "Mendelssohn's Bach": a presentation of what audiences in 1829 would have heard.

[...]
Rehearsals began on 2 February 1829 in the Singakademie. Orchestral rehearsals began on 6 March. The chorus comprised 158 singers. Mendelssohn conducted the performance from the grand piano with a baton.
[...]

http://www.takte-online.de/en/complete-ed/detail/browse/6/artikel/romantische-emotionen-mendelssohns-bearbeitung-von-bachs-matthaeus-passion/index.htm?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=5&cHash=523b733e5c

I imagine this will be quite a challenge for St James' Baroque.

[ed.] I take it that 'the performance' refers to the actual performance and not the rehearsals.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks, Dover's - though 158 singers seems somewhat larger than the usual BBC Singers forces. (That's why I wondered if Mendelssohn's original intention for a performance with a much smaller choir and orchestra might be attempted on this occasion. The large ensemble that eventually performed was decided upon only when so many people wanted to take part in the first performances of the work since Bach's own.)

[vinteuil]

.

... coincidentally I picked up in an oxfam shop here last week this -

http://amzn.eu/0P9WNBj

(which is of the 1841 version). Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.

Another one -

http://amzn.eu/6T8phB3

.

[MickyD]

I'd be interested to know what you think of the Spering version, Vints.

[BBMmk2]

I'd be interested to know what you think of the Spering version, Vints.

Likewise.

[doversoul1]

Anyone listening?

[teamsaint]

Anyone listening?

Yes. On my way home from work in the car, and now at home.

Enjoyed it so far, although the A345 isn't the ideal environment .

You listening, DS?