Bach's St John Passion - any recommendations?

[holyphool]

Releasing soon a new performance from JEG, the Monteverdi's and soloists Mark Padmore (Evangelist), Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Jesus), Peter Harvey (Pilatus), Joanna Lunn & Katharine Fuge (sopranos), Bernarda Fink (alto), recorded in Königslutter in 2003. It is sure to be an improvement of the rather dull, and emotionally bereft recording he did for Archive. Let's hope. Am sure CD Review will include it.

[HARRIET HAVARD]

Higginbottom on Naxos 8557296-97

Yes, I also have this recording. Excellent.

[verismissimo]

... even though it makes me a laughing stock with the establishment...

[verismissimo]

I'm delighted to hear this - the Parrott / Taverner is indeed excellent. I hope you and your friend have many happy years enjoying this glorious performance of a great work.

Seconded.

[Beef Oven!]

This year, as part of an increase in my interest in earlier music, I bought this JEG/Monteverdi/DG Archiv.

I think it's absolutely glorious. Available for £8.00 incl P&P on Amazon marketplace, 2nd hand, very good copy.

[teamsaint]

This year, as part of an increase in my interest in earlier music, I bought this JEG/Monteverdi/DG Archiv.

I think it's absolutely glorious. Available for £8.00 incl P&P on Amazon marketplace, 2nd hand, very good copy.

so not " dull and emotionally bereft" then?

Interesting.I shall dig out my copy and have a another listen with these opinions in mind.

Perhaps the church in Tooting is unhelpful? though its not like JEG to record in places he doesn't fancy.

[Nick Armstrong]

Releasing soon a new performance from JEG, the Monteverdi's and soloists Mark Padmore (Evangelist), Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Jesus), Peter Harvey (Pilatus), Joanna Lunn & Katharine Fuge (sopranos), Bernarda Fink (alto), recorded in Königslutter in 2003. It is sure to be an improvement of the rather dull, and emotionally bereft recording he did for Archive. Let's hope. Am sure CD Review will include it.

This year, as part of an increase in my interest in earlier music, I bought this JEG/Monteverdi/DG Archiv.
I think it's absolutely glorious.

Interesting, this. I also bought the Archiv JEG when it was released but got rid of it quite soon after (I suspect back to HMV with the receipt) - I found it, iirc, hard-driven, theatrical and lurid rather than spiritual... and - well - I wouldn't dissent from holyphool's description 'emotionally bereft'.

Glad you like it though, Beefy - it just doesn't deliver what I'm after from this work.

That said, I'm not sure I've ever heard a recording that ticks the boxes for me in this piece, so news of the new JEG is intriguing (given that I like JEG's more recent work with the Cantatas).

And welcome, holyphool. Keep 'em coming

[teamsaint]

I wonder if anybody can help me identify an old tape i have.
I is extracts from the St John, along with Cantata BWV 93, and was available at least 20 years ago.
not sure if this is the whole CD or not, but I guess it may have been a whole single CD.

Cheers.

[Beef Oven!]

Interesting, this. I also bought the Archiv JEG when it was released but got rid of it quite soon after (I suspect back to HMV with the receipt) - I found it, iirc, hard-driven, theatrical and lurid rather than spiritual... and - well - I wouldn't dissent from holyphool's description 'emotionally bereft'.

Glad you like it though, Beefy

Subtle as a friggin' sledgehammer.

[teamsaint]

Subtle as a friggin' sledgehammer.

Beefy, he is a lawyer.

It was never going to be tea and sticky buns.

Spinning it now , for a definitive judgement....

[Beef Oven!]

so not " dull and emotionally bereft" then?

Interesting.I shall dig out my copy and have a another listen with these opinions in mind.

Perhaps the church in Tooting is unhelpful? though its not like JEG to record in places he doesn't fancy.

Well, it's certainly not dull. As an agnostic (Mon-Fri)/Antitheist (Weekends), I found it pretty emotionally charged.

As for hard-driven, well I like my early music 'in-me-face'. One of the things that put me off early music for years was that powdered wig, beauty-spot, unmanly clobber vibe. This recording rocks!

[vinteuil]

Subtle as a friggin' sledgehammer.

... yep, John-Eliot's Bach often strikes me thusly.

As for hard-driven, well I like my early music 'in-me-face'. .... This recording rocks!

... well, perhaps "subtle" is not what Beef is looking for here...




.

[vinteuil]

And welcome, holyphool. Keep 'em coming

... ah well, only three years late

[Beef Oven!]

... well, perhaps "subtle" is not what Beef is looking for here...

It's only rock n roll, but I like it.

[hedgehog]

In 2012 I was trying to decide on a version for my father. It came down to The Parrot or the then fairly new 2nd recording by JEG - I do recommend listening to it!