Search - Kirsten Solleck-Avella, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooij :: Bach: Cantatas, Vol 13 (BWV 64, 25, 69a, 77, 50) /Concerto Palatino * Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki

Volume 13 is certainly not unlucky

Cheese Messiah | UK | 07/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Suzuki's Bach cantata series has fast become the cantata series of chice among collectors. Strong clear choral singing (lacking from the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt cantatas) and good instrumental contributions make this a very desirable set. The music may be mostly unfamiliar but Bach's extraordinary invention rarely flags. Cantata 64 opens with a superb choral number and though it is perhaps a shade too quick for my taste it is a strong performance. Two tuneful arias follow and are well performed. Cantata 25 has an awesome opening movement full of sombre power. It is a great creation though the following two arias do not live up to it. The first is somewhat dry and the other light and too cheerful for the ominous beginning. I had never heard 69a before this disc. It is an optimistic work with trumpets and tympani. no 77 opens with a movement symbolising the ten commandments, so there is a tenfold entry of the subject. The second aria contains one of the the most haunting trumpet tunes Ive ever heard. The disc ends with the fragmentary no 50 a single choral movement of great sweep and power. All I can say about the performances is that they match the constistency of Bach's music."

Excellent

Cheese Messiah | 01/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful performance & exquisite taste. A really good group of soloists, some of whom I hadn't heard before and would love to hear more of."