Customer Reviews

Bach: St. John Passion; Mass in B Minor; Easter Oratorio; Ascension Oratorio [Box Set]

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

 

 

Pick up this set. When I saw the ... price on these gems, I immediately ordered it. Andrew Parrott is a wonderful conductor who subscribes to the theory that Bach intended his choral music to be sung with one voice on a part. Quite a contrast to many recordings out there with 50+ on a part. Along with everyone else, I was a bit leery of this approach but wait until you hear these results! His performance of the mass is absolutely breathtaking! Rifkin recorded the mass OVPP but some of the soloists were a bit weak, especially compared to Parrott's soloists. I picked up this one and the Herreweghe recording of the mass (considered to be the best in many circles) around the same time and I found myself continually coming back to this one. The clarity of the vocal lines is wonderful. Some of the fugal lines get lost in Herreweghe's approach but not in Parrott's recording. You can follow each wonderful line from beginning to end. Parrott's soloists have a very clear, non-"operatic", beautiful sound that tunes so well (rare in OVPP works in my opinion). This is what makes the choral sections work so well--lack of excessive vibrato that makes Bach's musical lines unfold beautifully. The solo sections are just as impressive. The only beef I have with the recording is Parrott's use of a boy alto. An admirable job in most respects but he just can't quite match the maturity of the other voices.
The St. John's Passion is almost as remarkable. The choral singing is delightful and the soloists are again excellent. When you get these two landmark recordings plus The Easter and Ascension Oratorios to boot, the price is mind-boggling. I would pay this price for the mass alone. Highest recommendation.

Went looking for the Mass only, but got the whole box set at roughly the same price. Sure I'm not complaining.

If you like Rifkin's earlier and almost equally exciting version, this is your thing! Apparently Bach would endorse the use of boy alto for the performance. On the whole the performance was more rugged, and therefore more real than ever. The tempi are subtle and the instruments sound lean yet powerful. A mustbuy.

I must agree with the other reviewer that this is a great collection. However, I like the presence of the boy alto in the Mass. Bach composed most of his religious works for a boys choir but you wouldn't guess it from looking at most recordings. To the best of my knowledge this Mass is the only recording out there that is both OVPP and includes a boy soloist. It works for me.

When I purchased this 5-disc set by Andrew Parrot, I had failed to notice that this recording is at the minimum-setting of Bach recordings. No choir, but one individual voice per vocal part. Now normally, I like a nice big full choir sound, so before listening I had some doubts as to this recording would appeal to me.
Well, I must say, now that I've listened to it a couple of times, it's really a wonderfully pure effect, and I really DO like it. The sound isn't bleak at all, and at times the four interacting voices do sound like a small choir. I really do not know what Bach's original intentions were, but this recording is really a joy to listen to, and that's what counts most for me.

Outstanding combination of orchestral playing and soloists' performance bringing huge drama and sensitivity to Bach's B Minor Mass (and in same box St. John Passion and Easter Oratorio). Emma Kirkby excels under the baton of Andrew Parrott.