St Matthew Passion

**smittims** · 03-04-23, 06:58

Sorry, I missed it, but thanks for the notice, I'll catch up when I have time (and one needs time for this work!). The Concertgebouw 'Passion' is of course a long-standing tradition, much-associated with the somewheat heavyweight interpretation of Willam Mengelberg, which has survived on disc.

Does anyone know if John Butt is a descendant of Richard Butt who use to conduct some fine Bach performances in Birmingham in the 1970s?

**Constantbee** · 03-04-23, 07:43

Originally posted by JasonPalmer View Post

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001kgwv

2023 Euroradio Holy Week Music Series

The final part of today's selection of concerts from around Europe, featuring music for Holy Week.

Presented by Andrew McGregor.

From the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam:

Bach's St Matthew Passion, performed by the Netherlands Radio Choir and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by John Butt.

...coming to a close soon but i found it lovely, anyone else enjoy it ?

I must confess I enjoyed yesterday’s Music for Holy Week, if enjoyed is the right word. I spent yesterday waiting hour by hour for news of a seriously ill relative close to the end of the road, and the content was appropriate to get me, at least, through the day. My sister and I managed to persuade her carers to put Classic fm on (very quietly) in her room. Doubt whether she was conscious by that stage. Pity, because I think she might have enjoyed The Matthew Passion, as it’s the sort of thing she used to like. A fine performance, I thought. Didn’t know the performance was a long-standing tradition, but glad I do now. The table of recordings (BWV244) on Wikipedia makes for interesting reading. The Mengelberg 1939 is the earliest on the list but there appear to be some stunning recordings since then featuring the great and the good and all the post-war household names. If anybody’s got a favourite, do let us know.

**oddoneout** · 03-04-23, 08:07

I listened and enjoyed, although Evangelist sounded a bit strained at times I thought. As ever the final chorus got me; it has always moved me, even as a child before I knew what the words and context were, I think it is a visceral reaction to the harmonies. As I've got older I find it ever more heartrending, and I doubt I could sing it now without falling apart - it was hard enough 4 years ago. "Wir sitzen uns mit Tranen nieder" indeed.

As for smiitims query, an obituary notice for Richard Butt notes he "is survived by his partner Stanley" . I don't know if that would be the uncle who was a professional musician that Butt referred to in an interview.

**oddoneout** · 03-04-23, 08:34

Originally posted by Constantbee View Post

I must confess I enjoyed yesterday’s Music for Holy Week, if enjoyed is the right word. I spent yesterday waiting hour by hour for news of a seriously ill relative close to the end of the road, and the content was appropriate to get me, at least, through the day. My sister and I managed to persuade her carers to put Classic fm on (very quietly) in her room. Doubt whether she was conscious by that stage. Pity, because I think she might have enjoyed The Matthew Passion, as it’s the sort of thing she used to like. A fine performance, I thought. Didn’t know the performance was a long-standing tradition, but glad I do now. The table of recordings (BWV244) on Wikipedia makes for interesting reading. The Mengelberg 1939 is the earliest on the list but there appear to be some stunning recordings since then featuring the great and the good and all the post-war household names. If anybody’s got a favourite, do let us know.

A difficult time for you, but the music was appropriate. Hearing is the last sense to go apparently, so the Classic fm may well have registered.
I listened to the music before the Bach passion from 11 -30 and found it an interesting selection. Mention of a premiere/first performance of a contemporary work makes me slightly edgy but the Petr Fiala followed the Brahms well I thought. Hearing choirs from other countries singing familiar music such as the Brahms I find enjoyable and often useful- hearing things I perhaps hadn't noticed before, or a different approach.
Not sure why the BBCS slot hasn't got an entry under "Music Played" though. I wasn't able to listen, and thought I'd imagined they had a contribution.

**smittims** · 03-04-23, 11:11

Yes, every credit to you, Constantbee, for what must have been a difficult day.

I think my favourite St. Matthew overall is the 1954 Furtwangler, the complete recording issed by Orfeo. The end of Part one is a good example of F's control over the tempi and pace of the work. I also enjoy the old Jaques, a much better recordig than it seemed when cramped for many years onto three LPs. Mike Dutton's CD remastering revealed it as a classic Victor Olof/Kenneth Wilkinson/Kingsway Hall FFRR job.

Despite being a lifelong Klemperer fan I don't think his famous Columbia recording found him at his best. It seems a bit too deliberate all the way through for me. A little 'caution-to-the-winds' spontanaeity would have helped.

**Barbirollians** · 07-04-23, 05:50

I remain very fond of the Gardiner recording - it will be getting an airing today. Lots of outstanding singing especially from Anthiny Rolfe Johnson.

St Matthew Passion

St Matthew Passion

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