BaL 21.02.15 - J.S. Bach: Magnificat

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 a.m.
Building a Library
Simon Heighes rolls up his sleeves to investigate the available recordings of Bach's Magnificat and makes a personal recommendation. The Magnificat is one of Bach's most popular choral woks, with it's mixture of uplifting and rousing choruses and arias full of pathos.

Available versions:-

Munich Bach Choir & Munich Bach Orchestra, Hansjörg Albrecht
New Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim
Windsbacher Boys Choir, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Karl-Friedrich Beringer
Trinity Boys' Choir & English Bach Festival Choir & Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein (DVD)
Schola Cantorum, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
Yale Schola Cantorum, Yale Voxtet & Yale Collegium Players, Simon Carrington
The Sixteen & The Symphony of Harmony and Invention, Harry Christophers
Stuttgarter Bach-Chor & Stuttgarter Bach-Orchester, Marcel Couraud
Bavarian Radio Chorus & Concerto Koln, Peter Dijkstra
Ensemble Vanitas, Coro della Radio Svizzera, Diego Fasolis
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Greg Funfgeld
The Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Le Concert d’Astrée, Emmanuelle Haïm
Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble, Thomas Hengelbrock
La Chapelle Royale & Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe
Collegium Musicum 90, Richard Hickox
Berliner Philharmoniker, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Herbert von Karajan
RAI Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Herbert Von Karajan
Budapest Chorus, Budapest Radio Symphony Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Netherlands Chamber Choir, La Petite Band, Sigiswald Kuijken (download)
Gabrieli Consort and Players, Paul McCreesh (2 versions)
ASMF, Neville Marriner
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Wiener Akademie-Chor, Hymnuschor Stuttgart, Karl Münchinger
Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman
Ricercar Consort, Philippe Pierlot (CD & DVD)
AAM, Simon Preston
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Gunther Ramin
Dresdner Barockorchester, Dresdner Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann
Gächinger Kantorei, Stuttgart Choir; Stuttgart Bach Collegium Orchestra, Helmuth Rilling
Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall (CD & DVD)
RIAS Chamber Choir & Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Peter Schreier
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw
RCA Victor Chorale & Orchestra, Robert Shaw
Leipzig St. Thomas Choir, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Studio conductor (download)
Oxford Schola Cantorum, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Jeremy Summerly
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
Thomanerchor Leipzig & Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Kurt Thomas
The Netherlands Bach Society, Jos van Veldhoven
Northern Chamber Orchestra, Oxford Schola Cantorum, Nicholas Ward

[Rolmill]

I have four, but to my surprise only one (McCreesh) is listed. It looks like the Kuijken, Kings/Cleobury and Preston (in E flat) are all unavailable. Of these, my favourite is the Kuijken, but I will listen with interest.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have four, but to my surprise only one (McCreesh) is listed. It looks like the Kuijken, Kings/Cleobury and Preston (in E flat) are all unavailable. Of these, my favourite is the Kuijken, but I will listen with interest.

Cleobury seems to be deleted but a few copies are available on Amazon. Kuijken and Preston are available as downloads, so I've added these.

[mercia]

I have a stately-paced Kings/Ledger with Christmas interpolations (is that the E flat version?)

[Beef Oven!]

I assume we are talking about CPE Bach Magnificat, WQ 215.

[verismissimo]

I assume we are talking about CPE Bach Magnificat, WQ 215.

No, Beefy.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I assume we are talking about CPE Bach Magnificat, WQ 215.

Only if there's been a helluva typo in the Thread title and OP.

[gurnemanz]

I quite recently acquired the Thomas Hengelbrock version on DHM, attracted to it not only because I did not know the original E Flat version which Bach wrote shortly after his arrival in Leipzig and which has with four extra Christmas movements, but also by the accompanying work, the Missa Sapientiae by Antonio Lotti, which had received rave reviews. Briskly done with four voices to each part. Great disc which probably should be on the list.

[Beef Oven!]

Only if there's been a helluva typo in the Thread title and OP.

When I looked, there was no 'J.S.'

[Nick Armstrong]

My preferred version of those I've heard is the Fasolis, I love the sound of this performance and the recording. I remember hearing it first on TTN (it's a live performance) and subsequently being delighted to discover it was on CD. It'll take some displacing in my affections. It led me to get rid of the King's / Cleobury version in last summer's clear-out.

I downloaded the first movement in the Rademann version which goes at a hell of a lick and is exhilarating.

I also have the Esurientes from the Albrecht version which features some delectable woodwind playing

[MickyD]

So sad to see the old AAM version (the E flat version with Christmas interpolations) is only available as a download, it has long been one of my favourites. The boys voices of Christ Church, Oxford really ring out.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I looked, there was no 'J.S.'

B.O. is quite correct.

[Keraulophone]

So sad to see the old AAM version (the E flat version with Christmas interpolations) is only available as a download, it has long been one of my favourites. The boys voices of Christ Church, Oxford really ring out.

Completely agree, MD. I remember hearing them sing this Eb version around the time of the recording at one of the concerts for the opening of their new Rieger organ, which Francis Grier (then Assistant Organist) played solo in the first half (Messiaen?).

One of many Simon Preston CCCC LP gems that often make their way to my turntable.

Another version (this time in D major) with thrilling boys' voices from the early days of not-very-HIP was Tölzer Knabenchor / Collegium Aureum on DHM.

[MickyD]

Interesting, Keraulophone...I too remember a wonderful concert around the time of the recording, when the choir was teamed up with the AAM for a Christmas concert at St John's Smith Square...the Magnificat in the first part, then extracts from Messiah in the second. By a happy twist of fate, snow started falling outside and proved a lovely backdrop in the large window behind the choir and orchestra. I'll never forget it!

[Pulcinella]

Another version (this time in D major) with thrilling boys' voices from the early days of not-very-HIP was Tölzer Knabenchor / Collegium Aureum on DHM.

Which was coupled with the CPE Bach Magnificat.
I gave it away, but reacquired the CPE in the Harmonia Mundi box(ed) set.

JEG, King's/Ledger, and CCCO/Preston here, so not really looking for another.
But I will listen with interest, live if I can (away visiting friends -- yes, I do have some!) or catch up later.