BaL 2.04.11 Bach: St John Passion

[Nick Armstrong]

I had the opportunity to give this BAL another listen. Yes I agree it was a pity there was no consideration at all of non-HIPP recordings. But otherwise I thought it an excellent survey, and the balance between new releases and earlier recordings well judged. The extracts were illuminating and SH's comments thought provoking. I thought it was rather cruel to follow Ruth Holton's impeccable solo for JEG with the named treble from the New College recording - on his own terms, on relistening, he was jolly good and reminded me of the better trebles used in the Leonhardt-Harnoncourt cantata series. My wish to sample the new Pierlot performance is redoubled. Lovely soprano soloist there.

And above all, SH repeatedly articulated my own reservations about JEG's approach to this and similar works. Preferring other versions to JEG, SH talked of preferring 'humility to hubris', 'thoughtfulness to theatricality'... I couldn't agree more (He used another interesting word about the JEG approach: "drilled" - nicely ambiguous word conveying the immaculate technical discipline but also the hard-edged aspect which I find a turn-off. He also called it 'attention-seeking' which I also think is fair comment.)

[umslopogaas]

I've also got only one version of the St John Passion and it hasnt had a mention so far:

Consortium Musicum and South German Madrigal Choir conducted by Wolfgang Gonnenwein, with Elly Ameling, Brigitte Fassbaender, Theo Altmyer, Kurt Equilux, Franz Crass and Siegmund Nimsgern.

Dates from 1970 on HMV Angel. Quite a starry cast, but I guess it might be unavailable? Does anyone know it?

[ardcarp]

Caliban. I agree with most of your post, and especially SH's comment about preferring

'humility to hubris', 'thoughtfulness to theatricality'.

I've just been on a longish car journey and played NCO's St John twice through. I think SH's dismissal of the ATB soloists was very unfair. James Gilchrist ticked all my evangelist boxes, and for heaven's sake, James Bowman was the alto.

That aside, I though Higginbottom's choice of tempi was outstanding, the instrumental playing exceptional in its clarity and the choir...well, Lutheran Germany or what?

[DracoM]

Coouldn't agree more.

[MickyD]

Good point, Caliban, about the unfairness of comparing the soprano and boy soloist side by side. I have recently been working my way through all of the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cantata series with relish - perfectionists will scratch their heads for me saying it, but I find that the warts-and-all performances by the young boy soloists both thrilling and convincing, a feeling of spontaneousness that I just don't get with professional and polished sopranos.

[BBMmk2]

So what do board members say about the Suzuki version. Has that the more inclined reasoning?

[ardcarp]

I'd like to hear more of it. I've just ordered Parrott's version, so I'll have to wait until I can borrow Suzuki's from someone else. Good performance coming up in Exeter Cathedral this Saturday BTW.

[VodkaDilc]

This was an ideal BAL for me. I like the one person/scripted format; a two-man chat is too rambling for me and reminds me of the dreadful tendency in TV news, where two journalists interview each other, preferably across thousands of miles. ("I imagine the situation in Libya is developing quickly, Jeremy." "Very much so, Andrew." Aagh!!)

Simon H is an expert on Bach and he obviously put a lot of thought into what he had to say. (Well prepared and delivered - not a conversation.) The extracts were varied and not too long; and I got the impression that the decision to concentrate on recent CDs was his and not an editor's. I am now keen to explore the Pierlot recording; his Bach Magnificat is excellent.

IF anyone from CD Review reads this, please give us more BALs like this one.

I've only just got around to ordering the Pierlot recording - only £13.99 for the 2 CD set from The Woods!