BACH: A PASSIONATE LIFE with JEG, BBC2/hd, 30.3.13 plus redbutton performances after

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And John Eliot was really good as a presenter - he can be forgiven for promoting the old idea that Bach was struck down at the moment the fugue tails off...

I don't think he was promoting that idea. He flagged it up, but it was later effectively dismissed.

[Anna]

I can't remember when I enjoyed one of the BBC's programmes about music so much. I suggest we all fire off letters to the Editor of the RT, you never know, it might result in more of the same? (OK, some hope I hear you say, but those that don't ask don't get!)

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't think he was promoting that idea. He flagged it up, but it was later effectively dismissed.

Then I must have been taken in...

[David-G]

For anyone who missed it, the "red button" programme (which is well worth watching) is available on the iplayer.

[chrisjstanley]

Caliban,
The cantata with the soprano and contralto is BWV 78. You can read discussion of the various recordings on the bach cantatas website at

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV78-D.htm

and hear various renditions on youtube including a performance by treble and alto in the Harnoncourt series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AeXN0MIE9E

[at 52 minutes and 6 seconds precisely]

bws
Chris S

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

prior to his ten years at All Souls:

Dean of Christ Church, Oxford (from 1991 to 2003)
Dean of Chapel and Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge (from 1981 to 1991)
Lecturer in Religious Studies, Sussex University (from 1979 to 1981)
Resident Canon of Norwich Cathedral and Examining Chaplain to Bishop of Norwich (Vice-Dean of Norwich, 1978) (from 1973 to 1979)
Chaplain and Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford (from 1969 to 1973)
Chaplain, Downing College, Cambridge (from 1966 to 1969)
Curate, St John’s Wood Church, London (from 1963 to 1966)
Ordained at Westcott House, Cambridge
Undergraduate, Trinity Hall, Cambridge (to 1961)

is he the real vicar of the establishment?

[David-G]

Has nobody listened to the Bach Marathon? Or have I missed the thread? I have just returned from nine hours of Bach (well, eight not including intervals) at the Albert Hall. I splashed out on a relatively expensive stalls seat, and abandoned my accidentally double-booked ticket for Nabucco at Covent Garden, and don't regret either decision. The whole event was a delightful, engrossing, rewarding and uplifting experience. The English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir were as always incomparable, and the solo numbers were to be treasured - Joanna MacGregor's Goldberg Variations, Alban Gerhardt's Cello Suite no. 6, and Viktoria Mullova's second partita with its immense Chaconne. I was amazed how the solo violin and solo cello effortlessly filled the hall - and how extremely quiet the audience were. And I mustn't forget John Butt's magnificent organ recital. The panel discussions were perhaps rather numerous and extended, I see that Radio 3 broadcast different material during those. I would be interested to hear people's views on the radio talks. There were two particularly interesting points from the panel discussions. Tamar Pincus, the psychology professor from the other night, announced that she had got it all wrong - Bach was perfectly well balanced, and not paranoid! The other gem was the leader Kati Debretzeni's reply to Tom Service. I can't remember the words of his question exactly, but the gist of it was this - "What do you feel about Bach's apparent irascibility when it came to getting what he wanted?" She replied - she is very familiar with such a personality, as our conductor is exactly like that! There was a titter and a ripple of applause from the audience. From what I hear of JEG, I think she hit the nail on the head. He took it very well, with a smile. But all paled before the MAGNIFICENT performance of the B Minor Mass which closed the evening. The quality and the precision were superb, and the excitement infectious. I don't think I have ever heard a choir sing so quietly as they sang "et sepultus est" in the Credo, one had to strain one's ears to hear it - and there was not the tiniest sound from the audience - and then the trumpets blasted out the "Et resurrexit". At the end of the performance JEG kept his hands raised, to indicate silence, seemingly for an age (perhaps it was 10-15 seconds?) Again, deathly silence from the audience. And then the thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

[Stunsworth]

David, I heard most of it, and enjoyed every minute. I'd intended to just listen to an hour or two, but was still there at the end.

The only dodgy bit was a horn solo at one point in the B Minor Mass, at the end of the movement there was some serious tuning by the band.

I'd love the beeb to do something similar with Beethoven.

[Richard Tarleton]

Fitting it around other things during the day - everything here stopped for Alban Gerhard, Viktoria Mullova and John Butt. I can imagine few things more terrifying than opening such an occasion with the 6th cello suite from a standing start (not to mention having to talk, even to CB , just before doing so). I just tried to picture the fabulous Ms Mullova in my mind's eye, I've seen her perform, the remarks about the performance seemed entirely apposite. A remarkable performance of the D Minor partita, the Chaconne seemed to generate a sort of inner stillness and to challenge the vast space. I enjoyed JEG's remarks about Nadia Boulanger - if he found her terrifying, terrifying she must have been. I wasn't sure if some bits were coming from a studio - I enjoyed the Thurston Dart recording. I heard some other things, I'm afraid I tuned out of most of the discussion and missed the Mass but shall try to catch up.

[jean]

Has nobody listened to the Bach Marathon? Or have I missed the thread?

I didn't start a thread because I was so sure there must have been one I just hadn't been able to find.

I didn't sit down to listen seriously until the B Minor, so I can't say much about the earlier part, or the talks. I'm interested to see how much Raymond Tallis, ex-geriatrician and scourge of the deconstructionists, has been popping up, but I haven't registered much of what he's had to say.

But the Mass...I thought both Kyries a little too jerky, but any criticisms soon melted away - what a fine performance (bar that horn...)

The et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum (which is my touchstone for any performance) was as terrifying as it ought to be.

Amazingly disciplined audience! I could not believe they waited so long to applaud.

I...abandoned my accidentally double-booked ticket for Nabucco at Covent Garden...

I see it gets four starts in today's Guardian... I hope you gave it to someone!

[Nick Armstrong]

Has nobody listened to the Bach Marathon? Or have I missed the thread?

In a busy day, my occasional attempts to listen were frustrated by coinciding with the prattling of the increasingly Bunterish Tom Service who seems to be turning into a parody of himself and annoys me more and more... CDs were the source of music yesterday.

But having read the various comments here, I not have the B minor Mass performance downloaded and on the iPod, so shall certainly listen to that. Sounds a terrific experience (although I think you were right to shell out for decent stalls seats David - when I've heard 'HIP' choral works in that place, it's always seemed to be down the wrong end of the aural 'telescope' - not my favourite acoustic for that sort of music, which is what put me off going).

[Gordon]

I listened to most of the day but was really taken by the BMM - slips and all. I can forgive a horn player who has to sit there for ages and then make that leap!! Such a powerful performance and that huge culminating dona nobis pacem always puts one in one's place. I too was impressed by the audiences' respect at the end.

I have heard several BMMs in that space before and in the audience one is at some distance from it all but the R3 sound was much more intimate although a bit of juggling was needed from time to time and balance was not always right - but that is being a Beckmesser.

[Pegleg]

A slightly wayward horn ( Corno da caccia ? ) in the bass aria "Quoniam tu solus sanctus .." hardly detracts from a wonderful BWV 232 . On the other hand, OTT Tom Service got right up my nose. And one of the best things about listening to the Bach Marathon a second time ( yes I really am) is fast forwarding every time TS opens his mouth. Thank God Catherine Bott was at hand at the day to counter some his prattle and had no trouble saying the BMM "is a religious experience".

[Nick Armstrong]

On the other hand, OTT Tom Service got right up my nose. And one of the best things about listening to the Bach Marathon a second time ( yes I really am) is fast forwarding every time TS opens his mouth. Thank God Catherine Bott was at hand at the day to counter some his prattle

[Thropplenoggin]

Tom Disservice?



(He has become the Smashy/Nicey of the classical music world.)