Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, John Eliot Gardiner, Magdalena Kozena :: Bach: Whitsun Cantatas / Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir

Elegance & grace

David Wihowski | Milwaukee, WI USA | 03/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gardiner and his crew (Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists) dance through these cantatas with elegance and grace. They are in very fine form on this disc! Delightful music wonderfully performed!Many Bach performances (I've been part of some) and recordings are plagued by the density of texture and angularity of melody common in much of Bach's opus. On this occasion it is as if the choir, soloists and orchestra do an inticate and graceful dance around these formidable obstacles, and do it without the slighest trace of effort. The music of Bach is often a ballet with sabres and lances, yet it is executed here without reservation or hesitation.It is clearly obvious that this team loves Bach and is as comfortable with his difficulties as they are with eating or breathing.These cantatas are not some of the more common or popular ones, however, they demonstrate the incredible consistency of Bach's output. Inspiring, engaging, delightful, intricate, difficult, in a word--Bach. A fine CD for any Bach collection!"