Bach: Matthaus-Passion (St Matthew Passion) BWV 244 /Bostridge

Bach: Matthaus-Passion (St Matthew Passion) BWV 244 /Bostridge * Selig * Rubens * Scholl * Gura * Henschel * Collegium Vocale * Herreweghe (+CD-Rom)

The St. Matthew Passion, Bach's monumental retelling of the story of the Last Supper and the arrest and execution of Jesus, typically runs from two-and-a-half to three hours. Yet this performance makes the time... well, not exactly fly past (consider the subject matter), but it's not tedious for even a second. Much of the credit for this goes to the marvelous Evangelist, Ian Bostridge. He's an outstanding narrator: the clear tone and diction, skillful timing, and intense involvement with words that made him a famous lieder singer are all in evidence; his part consists of nothing but recitative, yet he holds your interest unfailingly. Franz-Josef Selig gives a more dramatic reading of Jesus than you usually hear these days--he may be a bit too "operatic" for some listeners, but he really communicates his character's very human anguish and sorrow. Similarly, soprano Sibylla Rubens, tenor Werner GÃ¼ra, and bass Dietrich Henschel sometimes unleash a bit too much vibrato for some tastes, but their singing is full-throated and attractive and they're very sensitive to the nuances in the text and music. Superstar countertenor Andreas Scholl is the standout--he combines unearthly purity with very earthly feeling and blends beautifully with the baroque instruments. The real stars of the record, however, are Philippe Herreweghe and his remarkable choir and orchestra. This conductor and his musicians (especially his radiant choir, Collegium Vocale) have always been superb at conveying warmth, devotion, and contemplation, but intense joy, anguish, or anger have sometimes seemed beyond them. Not here: they cover the full emotional range of this work--from reverent reflection to anguished remorse to churning fury--without ever crossing the line into melodrama or sacrificing clarity.
On top of all this, you get a CD-ROM chock full of interesting and well-organized information (in English, German, and French): texts as well as an overview with a timeline of Bach's life, a discussion of how the work is put together, marvelous graphics, sound clips, and an extensive interview with Herreweghe himself. A superb accompaniment to a superb release. --Matthew Westphal
Country USA
Brand HARMONIA MUNDI
Manufacturer Harmonia Mundi Fr.
Binding Audio CD
ItemPartNumber 794881478620
ReleaseDate 1999-11-16
UnitCount 4
Format Enhanced
UPCs 794881478620
EANs 0794881478620

Country	USA
Brand	HARMONIA MUNDI
Manufacturer	Harmonia Mundi Fr.
Binding	Audio CD
ItemPartNumber	794881478620
ReleaseDate	1999-11-16
UnitCount	4
Format	Enhanced
UPCs	794881478620
EANs	0794881478620

Bach: Matthaus-Passion (St Matthew Passion) BWV 244 /Bostridge * Selig * Rubens * Scholl * Gura * Henschel * Collegium Vocale * Herreweghe (+CD-Rom)

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