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Bach: St. Matthew Passion
David Lloyd, William Wildermann
Bach: St. Matthew Passion
Genres: Special Interest, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (33) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (37) - Disc #2

For all of Leonard Bernstein's remarkably eclectic affinities, his legacy as a conductor is not often associated with Baroque music. Yet this remastered recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion--like that of his Bach conce...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: David Lloyd, William Wildermann
Title: Bach: St. Matthew Passion
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 2/16/1999
Genres: Special Interest, Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Sacred & Religious, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 074646072721

Synopsis

Amazon.com
For all of Leonard Bernstein's remarkably eclectic affinities, his legacy as a conductor is not often associated with Baroque music. Yet this remastered recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion--like that of his Bach concertos with Glenn Gould and others--is a moving document of musical and emotional empathy. True, Bernstein's stylistic approach (the frequently languorous tempos, the italicized effect accorded certain significant moments in Bach's richly textured drama) and employment of large-scale choral and orchestral forces have long since fallen out of favor in the wake of the "authentic- performance" movement. And purists will certainly object to the use of English texts as well as numerous cuts from the original score (mostly in Part Two). That said, Bernstein's reading has a thrilling cogency and dramatic consistency fully abetted by the New York Philharmonic's heartfelt playing as well as by the excellently prepared chorus. Listen to the subtly varied inflections of each recurrence of the chorale "O Lamb of God Most Holy" to signal the inexorable course of the tragedy, or to the devastating impact of the sorrowful final double chorus. The vocal soloists are unfortunately uneven, ranging from David Lloyd's erratic, hooty tenor as the Evangelist to the multidimensional Jesus characterized by bass William Wildermann. The set includes a bonus track of Bernstein discussing how Bach unfolds his vividly dramatic structure in the Passion. -- Thomas May
 

CD Reviews

Passion in this Passion
Richard Falgione (Walt-Whitman@msn. | 03/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The true test of this recording is comparing the last chorus with other versions by Klemperer, Gardiner, Ritcher, Koopman, et al. Why?
Because Bach was wrenching all the drama he could from that last
expression of the sorrow of life of Jesus. "Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder" says it all. And Bernstein's version comes in at the slowest.
Over nine minutes! Koopman at six. And the cold, heartless Gardiner
even faster. Gardiner has no concept of the meaning and glorious
passion in this music. Don't buy his Bach recordings. Listen only to
this last chorus' first phrase and how gut-wrenching it is! Bernstein
understood this great masterpiece, and his version is worth buying
just for this chorus."
Bravos for all ! !
Richard Falgione (Walt-Whitman@msn. | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 03/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Musical drama as only Bernstein can interpret and produce, this 1963 recording with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, et al. is a magnificent depiction of Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Its abridged, English translation is far from "authentic," but has all the dramatic impact one would expect from Bach and Bernstein. The performance of the New York Philharmonic, as well as the Collegiate Chorale, is riveting. Though not perfect, the soloists provide strength in varying degrees. At its best, this recording is breathtaking; one cannot remain unmoved listening.Countless thanks go to Arthur M. Fierro and Stephen Saper, the reissue producer and engineer, as they did not attempt to change the tone and intention of the original recording. In many reissues of large symphony renditions of Baroque-era works, engineers and producers try to remaster the original recording into something it never was; they try to achieve an "authentic" sound, but make the orchestra sound thin and indirect in the process. Thankfully, this brutality was not perpetrated on this wonderful recording.What is more, that this work was put to tape in 1963 is virtually undetectable, owing to the successful efforts of Fierro and Saper in remastering. Also, Bernstein appears on the cover wonderfully politically incorrect smoking a cigarette, much as his interpretation of St. Matthew Passion is. Bravos for all!!"
Puzzling interpretation
J. C. Woods | Malden, MA USA | 06/11/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"The linear notes tell us: "Leonard Bernstien did not record a great deal of baroque music. His career blossumed at precisely the same time big-orchestra performances of Bach and Handel were falling into a curious disrepute." Not so curious if you ask me. Getting the NYPO to play baroque is a bit like getting an elephant to dance en point. I really shouldn't criticize: the fact Bernstein could get the elephant up at all shows his genius. Anyway, I cannot believe the total difference between this recording and the Koopman or the Herrewege is simply that this is in English and the others are in German. Is German a prettier language than English? I think not. Certainly understanding the language is helpful. Maybe the translation is bad. Is it the cutting of the Passion? Bernstein loses the anointing of the feet at Bethany and thereby loses one of my favorite Arias "Bub und Reu." Is that what I find so disappointing? I don't know. All I know is I feel a lightness in other interpretations I miss here. This is purely subjective, I gladly admit. Perhaps had a known this interpretation first and followed it up with the Koopman or the Herrewege I would have an entirely difference assessment."