Bach/Handel: Solo Cantatas & Vocal Works [Original recording remastered]

Janet Baker (Artist), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), George Frideric Handel (Composer), Yehudi Menuhin (Conductor), Neville Marriner (Conductor), Raymond Leppard (Conductor), Bath Festival Orchestra (Orchestra), English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Bath Festival Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
• Conductor: Yehudi Menuhin, Neville Marriner, Raymond Leppard
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (July 3, 2001)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00005B5NN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,706 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly moving. Unqualifiedly recommended., January 16, 2003

By 

altoman "altoman" (Springfield, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach/Handel: Solo Cantatas & Vocal Works (Audio CD)

The Bach cantatas on this disc are both unusual. "Ich habe genug" is usually sung by baritones, but Bach's intentions as shown in the autograph score are less than clear: the autograph begins for soprano, but the first movement is not completed; the second version of the first movement is for alto; but the final version is for bass. At any rate, it makes you listen to this magnificent music afresh to hear it sung by a different voice-type than usually heard. "Gott soll allein" is a wonderful cantata that features an organ obbligato part in several movements instead of a violin or wind instrument.

Then there is the collection of arias. Bach wrote some truly beautiful music for the alto voice, expressive and heartfelt. Although many of these arias tend to the reflective, there is no routine here. Particularly remarkable is the drama of "Es ist vollbracht" from the St. John Passion. Baker conveys the negative meaning of the words "it is finished" at the beginning, then rips through the section that foreshadows the Resurrection ("Der held von Juda"). But when she returns to the first phrase she conveys the alternate meaning of the words--"It is accomplished." Yes, it is sung softly and slowly, but there is a quality of the voice that is triumphant. Wow!

Dame Janet was also well known for her abilities in the music of Handel, and here she puts all her vocal acting ability at the complete service of the music.