Customer Reviews

Bach: Cantatas, BWV 82. 83, 125, 200

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gardiner's choral conducting needs no introduction: he is simply the very best. Here, as in most of his other recent recordings of Bach's cantatas, he elicits beautiful singing and playing from his forces, breathing new life into these masterpieces. BVW 125 contains an amazing revelation (about which I've heard nothing before -- but perhaps I've been inattentive): Gustav Mahhler built the Der Abshied segment of Das Lied von der Erde on the "Ich will auch mit gebrochnen Augen" aria in this work! I knew that, before composing Das Lied, Mahler was restudying Bach, but I had no idea how closley he modelled the most moving part of Das Lied (the Der Abshied melody motiff, harmony, voicing and tempo)on what Bach wrote long before him in this aria. Amazing stuff!

This is moving stuff, though I suggest listening to this recording in a slightly different order, Ich habe genug (tracks 6-10 first), then Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, (tracks 11-17), then Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (Tracks 1-5) last. Ich habe genug is just sublime. It carries a message to us all, 'I have enough' (approximate translation). Bach was speaking for his time, with a religious perspective (making sure his bills got paid too), but today- I think a secular contemporary meaning can be derived. That is, to quote a more recent expression of wanting deliverance from 'the suffering of desire' (to take a slightly Buddist perspective), "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got", (Sinead O'Connor 1990). After listening to Ich habe genug, it is difficult to not feel like there is nothing else I need in life but the beauty of such music.

This is another of the DG cantata CDs, released before the big falling-out between Gardiner and DG, that was actually recorded on the Pilgrimage (Christchurch Priory Church, Dorset, very much home territory for JEG).

The big hit here is the beautiful cantata for solo bass BWV82 "Ich habe genug", with its gorgeous aria "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen". The performances are crisp, clear and well-executed. At the Amazon price, this is a bargain.

If you are interested in this recording, you might want to know that for about $60 you can get Sacred Masterpieces / Cantatas, which includes this one, as well as many others by Gardiner and these artists (the Monteverdi Choir, the English Baroque Soloists):

- Bach - Christmas Oratorio / Gardiner (2 disks; ~ $34)
- Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Rolfe Johnson, Bonney, von Otter, Chance, Crook; Gardiner (3 disks, currently not available directly through amazon)
- Bach: St. John Passion / Gardiner, The English Baroque Soloists (2 disks; ~ $34)
- Bach - Mass in B minor / Argenta, Nichols, Chance, Stafford, Milner, W. Evans, Gardiner (2 disks; ~ $30)
- Bach: Magnificat, BWV. 243; Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (~ $14)
- Bach: Advent Cantatas (~$16)
- Christmas Cantatas (~16)
- Bach: Cantatas, BWV 82. 83, 125, 200 (~ $18)

And so on. I'm tired of doing that. Even if you already own MOST of these recordings, this is still a bargain, maybe the single best bargain I've ever encountered in classical music.

All beautiful, justly famous works by one of the most devout and talented composers in European history. All either the most widely respected recordings, or among them; all by talented artists dedicated to period performance.

The little booklet that comes with the disks is just a track listing, but as the other reviewer mentioned the lyrics and translations are available online.

It might be one of the best Bach Cantata recordings I've ever experienced. BWV 82 is well known for classical music listeners. However, I like BWV 83 in this CD cuz it was very well completed through the high level of purity and integrity. Such a smooth and passionate flow makes us touching and leads to the very past which we can feel Bach's era. You won't be disappointed.