Bach: St. Matthew Passion

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor, Performer), Collegiate Chorale (Performer), Leonid Hambro (Performer), Betty Allen (Performer), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra), Bruce Prince-Joseph (Performer), Adele Addison (Performer), Charles Bressler (Performer), David Lloyd (Performer), David Lloyd (Artist), William Wildermann (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonard Bernstein, Collegiate Chorale, Leonid Hambro, Betty Allen, Bruce Prince-Joseph, et al.
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Leonard Bernstein
• Audio CD (February 16, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000I0W3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,486 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Passions
  • #38 in Music > Classical > Sacred & Religious > General
  • #85 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Part 1: No. 1 "Come, ye daughters"

2. Part 1: No. 2 "When Jesus had finished"

3. Part 1: No. 3 "O blessed Jesu"

4. Part 1: No. 4 "Then assembled the chief parts"

5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 1: No. 5 'Not upon the

6. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 1: No. 13 'Now on the f

7. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 1: No. 14 'Where wilth

8. Part 1: No. 15 "He said: Go ye into the city" / "Lord, is it I?"

9. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 1: No. 15 'Lord, is it

10. Part 1: No. 16 "Tis I who should be sharing"

See all 33 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 2: No. 47 'Have pity, L - Leonard Bernstein

2. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 2: No. 53 'Whate'er may - Leonard Bernstein

3. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 2: No. 54 'Now at that - Leonard Bernstein

4. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 2: No. 54 'Barabbas!' - Leonard Bernstein

5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Part 2: No. 54 'Then Pilate - Leonard Bernstein

6. Part 2: No. 47 "Have pity, Lord, on me"

7. Part 2: No. 58 "In love my Saviour now is dying"

8. Part 2: No. 53 "Whate'er may vex or grieve thee"

9. Part 2: No. 54 "Now at that feast"

10. Part 2: No. 57 "To all men Jesu good hath done"

See all 37 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars passion in this Passion, March 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bach: St. Matthew Passion (Audio CD)

The true test of this recording is comparing the last chorus with other versions by Klemperer, Gardiner, Ritcher, Koopman, et al. Why?
Because Bach was wrenching all the drama he could from that last
expression of the sorrow of life of Jesus. "Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder" says it all. And Bernstein's version comes in at the slowest.
Over nine minutes! Koopman at six. And the cold, heartless Gardiner
even faster. Gardiner has no concept of the meaning and glorious
passion in this music. Don't buy his Bach recordings. Listen only to
this last chorus' first phrase and how gut-wrenching it is! Bernstein
understood this great masterpiece, and his version is worth buying
just for this chorus.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars puzzling interpretation, June 11, 2000

By 

J. C. Woods "silvannus" (Malden, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: St. Matthew Passion (Audio CD)

The linear notes tell us: "Leonard Bernstien did not record a great deal of baroque music. His career blossumed at precisely the same time big-orchestra performances of Bach and Handel were falling into a curious disrepute." Not so curious if you ask me. Getting the NYPO to play baroque is a bit like getting an elephant to dance en point. I really shouldn't criticize: the fact Bernstein could get the elephant up at all shows his genius. Anyway, I cannot believe the total difference between this recording and the Koopman or the Herrewege is simply that this is in English and the others are in German. Is German a prettier language than English? I think not. Certainly understanding the language is helpful. Maybe the translation is bad. Is it the cutting of the Passion? Bernstein loses the anointing of the feet at Bethany and thereby loses one of my favorite Arias "Bub und Reu." Is that what I find so disappointing? I don't know. All I know is I feel a lightness in other interpretations I miss here. This is purely subjective, I gladly admit. Perhaps had a known this interpretation first and followed it up with the Koopman or the Herrewege I would have an entirely difference assessment.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FROM BERNSTEIN'S SOUL TO OURS, April 17, 2003

By 

Bob S. "Classical Music Fanatic" (Northeast Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach: St. Matthew Passion (Audio CD)

I've waited 20 years to find this re-release of a 60's recording that I'd worn out 2 sets of LPs playing. In my view this is one of Bernstein's finest- every tempo, every dynamic, every nuance flows from his soul to his baton and to the orchestra, chorus, and soloists. Certainly not for the purists given the cuts and modern orchestral treatment, but for pure listening bliss this is the recording to own. His (all too) brief explanation of this work at the end exposes his emotional involvement with this masterful music and is a delightful bonus that was originally included as a 7" LP in the set. Bravo to Sony for their Bernstein re-release program!