Bach - Mass in B minor BWV 232 · Magnificat · Cantate BWV 80 / Gens · A. Scholl · Prégardien · Kooy · Herreweghe (+ CD-Rom) [Enhanced, Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Artist), Philippe Herreweghe (Artist), Andreas Scholl (Artist), Véronique Gens (Artist), Collegium Vocale (Artist), Christoph Prégardien (Artist), Peter Kooy (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 9, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Enhanced, Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B000051W38
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,793 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Mass in b, BWV232: Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison - Collegium Vocale Chor

2. Mass in b, BWV232: Kyrie: Christe Eleison - Johannette Zomer/Veronique Gens

3. Mass in b, BWV232: Kyrie: Kyrie Eleison - Collegium Vocale Chor

4. Mass in b, BWV232: Gloria: Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Collegium Vocale Chor

5. Mass in b, BWV232: Gloria: Et In Terra Pax Hominibus Bonae Voluntatis - Collegium Vocale Chor

6. Mass in b, BWV232: Gloria: Laudamus Te - Johannette Zomer

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Credo In Unum Deum - Collegium Vocale Chor

2. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Patrem Omnipotentem - Collegium Vocale Chor

3. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Et In Unum Dominum - Johannette Zomer/Andreas Scholl

4. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Et Incarnatus Est - Collegium Vocale Chor

5. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Crucifixus - Collegium Vocale Chor

6. Mass in b, BWV232: Symbolum Nicenum: Et Resurrexit - Collegium Vocale Chor

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Magnificat, BWV243: Chor: Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum - Collegium Vocale

2. Magnificat, BWV243: Aria: Et Exultavit Spiritus Meus - Agnes Mellon

3. Magnificat, BWV243: Aria. Quia Respexit Bumilitatem - Barbara Schlick

4. Magnificat, BWV243: Chor: Omnes Generationes - Collegium Vocale

5. Magnificat, BWV243: Aria: Quia Fecit Mibi Magna - Hanno Muller-Brachmann

6. Magnificat, BWV243: Duo: Et Misericordia Ejus - Gerard Lesne/Howard Crook

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

This recording of the B Minor Mass is, quite frankly, a marvel. In the opening bars of the Kyrie, where tradition dictates a powerful, agonized cry for mercy, Philippe Herreweghe offers a gentle, awestruck plea that took this listener's breath away. Extroverted movements like the Gloria, Et resurrexit, and Sanctus lack nothing in excitement; Qui tollis and Dona nobis pacem feel like fervent prayers. Herreweghe's luminous Collegium Vocale and skillful, sensitive instrumentalists make every gesture, large and small, seem exactly right. The soloists have attractive voices that blend with the period instruments and each other; while each is exquisite, tenor Christoph Prégardien and alto Andreas Scholl are magnificent.

Bach's Magnificat is almost a microcosm of everything (well, almost) that's wonderful about Bach's sacred music--all in under half an hour. This is exactly what has made it so very popular among conductors and record labels. The great strength of Herreweghe's Magnificat is his soloists: alto Gérard Lesne, tenor Howard Crook, and bass Peter Kooy are solid, confident, and stylish; soprano Barbara Schlick sounds much warmer and more appealing than usual; and she, Agnès Mellon, and Lesne make beautiful music together in the trio "Suscepit Israel." The problem with this Magnificat is that the orchestra and especially the chorus just don't cut loose and get joyful when the music calls for it--the jubilant opening chorus in particular sounds positively genteel. (Try John Eliot Gardiner or Reilly Lewis to hear the difference.) Most Bach fans will probably want more than one Magnificat, however. This set also includes Cantata BWV 80, "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott." The piece is basically a multimovement fantasia on Luther's famous hymn tune ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" to English speakers) and Herreweghe, using the trumpet and drum parts added by Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann, gives it a gutsy, thrilling performance, worth having by itself.

Finally, this box set includes a bonus CD-ROM Bach Companion, a fascinating multimedia guide that includes the following features: contextual history of Europe around 1700, Bach's Germany, baroque terminology, a chronicle of the Bach family, detailed analysis of 20 works, a "composing machine," and four interactive "Bach games." --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but still lacking something, June 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bach - Mass in B minor BWV 232 · Magnificat · Cantate BWV 80 / Gens · A. Scholl · Prégardien · Kooy · Herreweghe (+ CD-Rom) (Audio CD)

Herreweghe has become a critical darling among Bach conductors, and this Mass in B minor is certainly worth the buy. I decided to purchase it after seeing Herreweghe perform it live. But now, after some months, the recording is not one that I feel compelled to return to. It basically lacks the passion that drives, for instance, Gardiner in his exhilarating version. There's nothing wrong in Herreweghe's performance by itself, but there's nothing particularly extraordinary either. Sure, choir and soloists are very good, and the orchestra plays nicely, helped by a recording that places it very upfront. But the general smoothness of sound, the much more legato playing than you're probably used to among period instrumentalists and a certain lack of energy make the work lose some of its grandeur. The curious thing is, you'll probably notice this only when comparing it with other recordings (Gardiner and Hickox come to mind, but even Karl Richter is more energetic). The Magnificat has the same assets and liabilities. It's a safe performance, and whoever can't stand Gardiner's fast pace will do no wrong going for it. Still, Hickox would be a better proposition for my taste, with some of the textural clarity that Herreweghe seemed to find only in his splendid second recording of the St. Matthew Passion.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep, Lively, and Authentic, March 7, 2002

By 

R. Gerard (Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bach - Mass in B minor BWV 232 · Magnificat · Cantate BWV 80 / Gens · A. Scholl · Prégardien · Kooy · Herreweghe (+ CD-Rom) (Audio CD)

...this is an excellent recording.

This release is one of exceptional value: Not only do you recieve Herreweghe's majestic interpretation of Bach's B-Minor Mass, but also the immortal Magnificat in D-Minor, Cantata 80 "Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott, and a well organized CD-Rom with too many features to name.

This release should exceed your expectations. The Harmonia Mundi sound quality is excellent. Both the choir and orchestra are immaculately balanced. The choir, by the way, is proportioned four-singers-per-part as indicated by Bach himself. This approach by the Collegium Vocale leads to the most appropriate and authentic renditions of Bach music available. Don't let the 16-choir member proportions prevent you from buying this great release because the overall puissance of this record is still retained by Herreweghe's powerful conducting. It still sounds very much like a large choir (although a 16 persons choir was considered large in Bach's time). It is, in fact, the grandest and most satisfying B-Minor Mass/Magnificat/BWV 80 I have yet heard. Play it LOUD!!!

The singers are all excellent beyond description.

The highlight of the disc was the astronomical "Omnes Generationes" of the D-Minor Magnificat.

If you like this set, you might want to consider Harmonia Mundi's similar 3CD+1CDROM sets including "The Famous Cantatas", "St. Matthew Passion", "St. John Passion/1724 Version", with the Collegium Vocale under Herreweghe and "The Christmas Oratorio" with the RIAS Kammerchor under Rene Jacobs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks blood, guts, June 1, 2009

By 

Jake "Chorister" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach - Mass in B minor BWV 232 · Magnificat · Cantate BWV 80 / Gens · A. Scholl · Prégardien · Kooy · Herreweghe (+ CD-Rom) (Audio CD)

Beautiful chorus (though a little breathy with the sixteenth note runs here and there) and this is the richest, fullest period instrument orchestral sound I've ever heard.

But where is the dance inherent to all of Bach's music? Not to be found here. Everything is, I think, too reverent (I suppose an emphasis on the divine but that completely loses the earthly aspect of Christ). The Cum Sancto Spiritu sounds like a fast dirge, the Crucifixus lacks a pulse (sounds like Palestrina badly performed). There is very little dynamic variation. It feels like Herreweghe drew one long legato line from the opening to the last bar.

I will keep it in my collection (B minor mass obsessive that I am), but if you want raw life instead of classical trance, get Gardiner's recording, or better yet, find Rilling's 1999 recording - it is truly full of life (Ingeborg Danz will break your heart in the Agnus Dei, the Sanctus will rock your bones) and thus all the more transcendent.