Search - J.S. Bach, Karl Richter, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau :: J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor

Indeed a magnificent achievement but read this first...

Ralph Lara | Miami Shores, FL USA | 02/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A magnificent achievement. This is indeed one of the greatest all-time recordings of Bach and of anything else for that matter. That being said, be aware that you can purchase this very same recording together with all of the major sacred works of Bach (except the cantatas, of course) on another DG box for only $12 more!!! That other set is entitled "Bach: Sacred Masterpieces", contains a whopping 10 CDs and is available all the time right here at amazon.com for just $79.99. It's housed in an attractive box containing this IDENTICAL recording of the B Minor Mass (in an even better and more recent remastering), the Saint Matthew Passion, the Saint John Passion, the Christmas Oratorio and the Magnificat (wow!). A booklet is included with notes and track listings. With that box readily available in stock I fail to understand how this 2 CD set (older mastering from 1989, special order, long wait and hard to get) is competitive at all. I hope this review is useful to you and helps you to save a lot of money. If you want this recording of the B Minor Mass, believe me, you will want the other Richter offerings, especially the Saint Matthew Passion and the Christmas Oratorio!



Obviously in this particular review the five stars are for the performance itself and not for this edition which, as I have explained, is not at all a good value. Even if the other set weren't available this 2 CD box is badly overpriced at $67.99, that's $34 per CD!!!"

Danger, Will Robinson - Ignore Ralph Lara!!!!!!

Stephen R. Westman | 03/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ralph Lara is incorrect in saying that this is the same performance in the collection that includes the two passions, the Christmas Oratorio and the Mangnificat. While the performance of the Mass in b Minor may be good in that set, it is NOT the same as this "stand alone" recording. While I cannot speak of that recording (which has different vocal soloists than this excellent cast), I can speak with 35 years of experience of THIS performance. It is, without a doubt, one of the - if not the - most powerful performances of any work of musical art that I have ever heard in my life!! The opening Kyrie can only be described as the most overwhelming experiences I have ever lived through. He takes the words - "Lord have mercy" - and musically stretches out his arms to heaven pleading for the Almighty's mercy. If one can use this term in conjunction with a musical performance, the experience is almost crushing in its intense power, profundity, and utter honesty. The rest of the performance live us to the same standards. What else can you expect with the level of performers included here, including the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau!!



Karl Richter was a superb musical dramatist and he knew how to draw out from the music - and from his performers - the emotions that were required for each piece to fully express what Bach had written (and Richter's Munich Bach Choir and Orchestra knew how to give it to him). I have heard a number of other performances of the Mass in B Minor (including one by Robert Shaw) and no - and I mean NO - performance came anywhere near as close to conveying the Divine content and profound musical depth that Bach placed in this music as this performance!!



My suggestion is to buy this record AND to buy the Sacred Masterpieces CD. It may cost you a bit more. However, the combination will demonstrate - ultimately and convincingly - the supreme musical mastery and spiritual depth of the choral work of Johann Sebastian Bach when performed by a conductor who has been given the profound gifts that Karl Richter was given."

I agree with Stephen!

Snookie | HUMMELSTOWN, PA USA | 04/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stephen Westman is right.



I own both recordings of Richter's B minor Mass - the one included in the box set AND this Stand Alone Recording. They are NOT the same.



Back in 1986 I heard this recording (LP back then) and fell in love at first hearing. Richter has captured the spiritual essence of this masterpiece of western music. The Richter recording with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is the best hands down.

"