Customer Reviews

Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas

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

 

 

The singing on this CD is unsurpassed, for what it is. Keep in mind that if you are not partial to boys' voices then this disc will not be to your taste. It is not necessarily a matter of authenticity. Yes, all male castes is the way Bach would have had it, but the idea seems too foreign for modern tastes.
Personally, after the initial experience of hearing boys play the roles of soprano, it is hard to go back. Indeed, there is a purity to the singing of found here that I have yet to find elsewhere.
There is one great reservation, this rendition of cantata no.80 is far inferior to the conductors other interperations of the same piece. Had I not known the disparity of the two, I may had given it five stars.

The singing on this CD is unsurpassed, for what it is. Keep in mind that if you are not partial to boys' voices then this disc will not be to your taste. It is not necessarily a matter of authenticity. Yes, all male castes is the way Bach would have had it, but the idea seems too foreign for modern tastes.
Personally, after the initial experience of hearing boys play the roles of soprano, it is hard to go back. Indeed, there is a purity to the singing of found here that I have yet to find elsewhere.
There is one great reservation, this rendition of cantata no.80 is far inferior to the conductors other interperations. Had I not known the disparity of the two, I may had given it five stars.

Leonhardt/Harnoncourt do a good job of recording period-like performances of Bach's cantatas. The boys voices are unique and fun to listen to. Probably not for the Bach novice. The use of period instruments and boy's voices will sound foreign at first. However, the music is beautiful never the less. All us Bach fans owe Harnoncourt and Leonhardt a great deal for their collection of recordings of Bach's wonderful cantatas. Thanks guys.

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Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas is a recording under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt who leads the Concentus musicus Wien on Teldec Classics International recording from 1993. Emil Platen has written a very interesting and well-written short essay entitled "The Opening Choruses of the Bach Cantatas". The artwork on the cover is very beautiful and the painting of Bach on the back makes him look quite regal. Highly recommended. 5/5.

A CD definately worth having, unless you have the full cantatas and can make your own CD of these sinfonias.The selection is good and the performances excellent. The price is cheap; cheaper than the postage and handling. Doctor 5 shipped rapidly and in mint condition.

These recordings don't bring out the potential in Bach's genius. In my humble opinion using boy sopranos, screeching trumpets, and conducting not for the music's sake but just to come close to sounding like the original performances are just bad taste. Other conductors have recorded much more moving and beautiful accounts of these works. The only good thing about this album is that there are not that many other concise Bach choruses collections out there. But even so, why did they leave out the most famous part of Wachet auf?