BaL 7.04.12 - Bach's St Matthew Passion

[BBMmk2]

Not directly from the River folk, Bbm, but through their "Links":

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Matthew.../dp/B00004R8MD

Ah, thank you for that Ferney! I rather enjoyed the way Summerly portrayed this. Indeed I think that the piano ;laying was sensitive to.

[silvestrione]

I enjoyed the BAL and couldn't put my more detailed reactions any better than that, vindemesse I was thinking it was one of those BALs that could have done with the full hour sometimes accorded, to allow for consideration of Herreweghe et al.

My feelings exactly. It started as an inspiring programme, really illuminating on the history of the recordings of the piece; we were deep into 'Erbarme dich', and I was just anticipating a contralto version, and wondering which one he'd choose, and then suddenly we moved on, vast swathes of the music were not considered, and the programme was all over.

[MickyD]

I agree, it almost felt like an abridged version of a longer programme. I certainly didn't like the final choice and was surprised to hear a harpsichord clanging away in the background of what is one of the newest HIP recordings - is this now considered authentic in this work?

[BBMmk2]

Now you mentioned it, Silvestrione, yes,there were vast tracts of music thatwas not considered when other reviewerrs, were considering other music. It left me rather empty?

[kuligin]

A long work like this really needs an " interpretations on record" type of programme

i thought the approach of a run through the history of recordings was the best approach even if I was not totally convinced by the winner.

I am not sure being told that this is the greatest Christian work ever, because " it just is" added much. And I am glad the reviewers fantasy recording with Sting as Evangalist is unlikely to occur, but then I thought it was unlikely any serious reviewer would admire that attempt at Dowland....

[rank_and_file]

Sorry to go off topic somewhat, but I looked on YouTube to see if anyone had posted the John Butt version. Could not see it but I did find the 1990 St John Passion by Kuijken and La Petite Band with Cristoph Pregardien as a wonderful evangelist posted as one complete file. Scholl looking very young.

Seems YouTube have changed their uploading rules to allow much longer complete files - 1 hour 50 mins in this case!

I think the SMP with Richter is there now posted in just two files.

[silvestrione]

A long work like this really needs an " interpretations on record" type of programme

i thought the approach of a run through the history of recordings was the best approach even if I was not totally convinced by the winner.

I am not sure being told that this is the greatest Christian work ever, because " it just is" added much. And I am glad the reviewers fantasy recording with Sting as Evangalist is unlikely to occur, but then I thought it was unlikely any serious reviewer would admire that attempt at Dowland....

So he DID say Sting...I assumed I'd misheard.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am not sure being told that this is the greatest Christian work ever, because " it just is" added much. And I am glad the reviewers fantasy recording with Sting as Evangalist is unlikely to occur, but then I thought it was unlikely any serious reviewer would admire that attempt at Dowland....

I think Mr Summerly is somewhat of a tease...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I listened to the selection this morning, and I really cannot see the purpose of one-to-a-part performances. There's so little variety of timbres, and in such a long work, this for me is important.

[BBMmk2]

Quite so EA. The St matthew passion of JSB, is to meapiece of'SacredDrama'. Unfoilds before us and so needs a variety of timbres. The larger scalkeversions of Herreweghe's andJEGs and now Rattle's, espeicially Rattles, exemplyfies this, imo.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I listened to the selection this morning, and I really cannot see the purpose of one-to-a-part performances. There's so little variety of timbres, and in such a long work, this for me is important.

Well, there are several performances on record that use bigger choirs. For those of us who prefer Bach's intentions (for its intimacy and greater variety of timbres than the homogenous mush of bigger choirs ) there are but three OVpP recordings. Butt's sounded a little too close-mic-ed to me as I listened this morning; so it's going to be either McCreesh or Kuijken for me.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Bach's intentions? Maybe. They did have choirs in those days. Bach sang in one when he was young. Is there any need to over-egg the argument by referring to over-large mushy choirs?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is there any need to over-egg the argument by referring to over-large mushy choirs?

YES: When somebody else has got egg on their face with such comments as "There's so little variety of timbres"!

[Tony Halstead]

It's a shame that JS didn't have time to mention the wonderful JEG recording.
Although now slightly 'venerable' ( recorded in 1988) for me it 'ticks all the right boxes' with superb soloists and a 'beatific' choir.

[Barbirollians]

Sounds like a disappointing BAL .