Buxtehude: Opera Omnia V: Vocal Works, Vol. 2 [Import]

Dieterich Buxtehude (Composer), Ton Koopman (Conductor), Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
• Conductor: Ton Koopman
• Composer: Dieterich Buxtehude
• Audio CD (November 13, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Challenge
• ASIN: B000PTYTK8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,681 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #68 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Magnificats

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative Buxtehude, November 19, 2007

By 

Paul Van de Water (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buxtehude: Opera Omnia V: Vocal Works, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Ton Koopman, Dutch conductor and organist, is president of the International Dieterich Buxtehude Society. Having recorded all of Bach's cantatas, Koopman is now embarked on recording all Buxtehude's works (opera omnia). In this fifth voume of the series, he presents 20 cantatas on two CDs.

The works of Buxtehude that are now categorized as "cantatas" represent several diverse musical styles, including chorale settings, Italianate concertos with prose texts (often Biblical), concerto-aria cantatas, strophic arias, and liturgical works. "In the hands of Buxtehude and his contemporaries," according to Buxtehude scholar Kerala Snyder, "these formerly separate genres began to borrow stylistic traits from one another." These CDs provide an attractive sampling of all of these types, as explained in the excellent notes by Christoph Wolff. Each disc begins and ends with a large-scale work featuring soloists, chorus, and orchestra (including brass). At least half of the works are not readily available elsewhere. Two canons and two Danish cantatas may well be recording premieres.

Although Buxtehude is often remembered primarily for his influence on J.S. Bach, he is increasingly recognized as a great composer in his own right. Koopman's series is of the highest quality and is clearly becoming essential for lovers of Buxtehude. If you have yet to make Buxtehude's acquaintance, this is an excellent place to start.

Paul N. Van de Water