Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al [Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer, Artist), Yoshikazu Mera (Performer), Bach Collegium Japan (Performer), Ingrid Schmithusen (Performer), Yoshie Hida (Performer), Gerd Turk (Performer), Makoto Sakurada (Performer), Masaaki Suzuki (Artist), Ingrid Schmithusen (Artist), Yoshikazu Mera (Artist), Gerd Turk (Artist), Makoto Sakurada (Artist), Yoshie Hida (Artist), Chiyuki Urano (Artist), Peter Kooij (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Yoshikazu Mera, Bach Collegium Japan, Ingrid Schmithusen, Yoshie Hida, Gerd Turk, et al.
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (April 1, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Bis
• ASIN: B00000IMR7
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,986 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Passions

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Chor.:Herr, unser Herrscher, dessen Ruhm...

2. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist, Jesus). Jesus ging mit seinen Jüngern/Chor: Jesum von Na

3. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Choral: O große Lieb' ohn' alle Maße

4. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist, Jesus) Auf daß das Wort erfüllet würde

5. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Choral: Dein Wuii; gescheh', Her Gott, zugleich

6. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist) Die Schar aber und der Oberhauptmann

7. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Arie: Von den Dtricken meiner Sünden

8. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist) Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesum nach

9. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Arie: Ich folge dir glechfalls mit freudigen Schritten

10. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist, Magd, Petrus, Jesus, Diener)

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist) Allda kreuzigten sie ihm/Chor: Schreibe nicht; der Juden

2. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Choral: In meines Herzens Gruden

3. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ:(Evangelist) Die Kriegsknecht aber/Chor:Lasset uns den nicht zerteilen

4. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Choral: Er nahm alles wohl in acht

5. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ:(Evangelist, Jesus) Und von Stund' an nahm sie der Jünger

6. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Arie: Es ist vollbracht

7. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ:(vangelist) Und neiget das Haupt und verschied

8. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Arie: mit Chor: Mein teurer Heiland,, laß dich fragen

9. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Rezitativ: (Evangelist) Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß

10. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Arioso: Mein Herz! in dem die ganze Welt

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Bach Collegium Japan has outdone itself: this St. John Passion is among the very best recordings in a crowded field--and not just because it includes three rarely performed items from Bach's intermediate versions of the work. As the Evangelist, Gerd Türk doesn't ladle rich, creamy vocalism over Bach's recitative; rather, using a low, natural-sounding volume as his base level, he uses subtle (and occasionally sudden) shifts of volume and tempo to recount the narrative like a genuine storyteller. At times Türk's delivery approaches "speech-song", yet in the famously dramatic moments in which the Evangelist gets real melody--such as "und weinete bitterlich" ("[Peter] wept bitterly")--he gives us full-throated, lyrical singing. Bass Chiyuki Urano is a creditable (if slightly stolid) Jesus; the four soloists who sing the arias are marvelous--their pure, youthful tone and grown-up artistry make for the best renditions of these solos that this listener has heard. Masaaki Suzuki and the BCJ bring a sense of sincere contemplation to the performance (as opposed to the more energetic approach of Gardiner) without short-changing the work's genuine drama--whatever their religious persuasions may be, these musicians play and sing the St. John Passion as if they really believe. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just right!, April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al (Audio CD)

This is truly the best St John Passion ever heard!! Everything is just right - excellent pace, marvellous soloists, superb orchestra, and authentic yet not stiff interpretation. A must to complete your colleciton of Gardiner, Munchinger, Richter and Ramin!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful!!, July 13, 2002

By 

"akom48" (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al (Audio CD)

I just listened to these CDs for the first time today and they completely blew me away. Everything about them is excellent. The soloists are top notch, the Chorus is very good and the music is wonderful. This St. John's grabs you from the first moment you put it on and holds your attention through the last note on CD 2. When I put on the first CD..it seemed that just a couple minutes had passed and yet the CD had played through and I was reaching for the second CD. It never occured to me that I would listen to both CDs start to finish, moving only to change CDs. I was completely engrossed in the performance.

Although I am a fan of Yoshikazu Mera and he was wonderful as usual, I have to say that Gerd Turk's narration impressed me the most. He is the perfect narrator for St. John's Passion.

One other note of interest is that this performance is based on the rarely heard 1749 performance or 4th version which, in itself, makes it a valuable addition to any Bach collection. The fact that it is beautifully performed and in my opinion the finest recording of St. John's Passion in my experience is just 'gravy'.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Johannes Passion, January 2, 2002

By 

C. Dyer (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al (Audio CD)

This is quite simply the best recording of the St. John's Passion to come from anyone in the last 25 years. Suzuki really makes the dramatic narrative come alive in the recording-- it's tremendously exciting music. The tempi move quickly enough that the music doesn't get bogged down in itself, but at the same time Suzuki as a tremendous ear for subtlety. The opening is one of the most chilling experiences in all of Bach.