Carl Heinrich Graun: Der Tod Jesu [Import]

Carl Heinrich Graun (Composer), Sigiswald Kuijken (Conductor), La Petite Bande (Performer), Inge Van De Kerkhove (Performer), Uta Schwabe (Performer), Christoph Genz (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: La Petite Bande, Inge Van De Kerkhove, Uta Schwabe, Christoph Genz
• Conductor: Sigiswald Kuijken
• Composer: Carl Heinrich Graun
• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B0000E32VY
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,005 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A lovely jewel in a tin foil setting, November 20, 2005

By 

Ingrid Heyn "No man is an Iland, intire of it... (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carl Heinrich Graun: Der Tod Jesu (Audio CD)

Graun was a composer of remarkable qualities - his ability to create ravishing melodies made him outstanding in his day, and it is wonderful that at least some of his works are being recorded and performed today.

It's just unfortunate that this particular recording suffers from two ordinary sopranos who fail to let the music shine in their performances. It's a great pity, because there's rather a gorgeous soprano duet in this work which is not given anything like the treatment it deserves.

The male voices are quite good. Stephen Genz is particularly noteworthy. The orchestral playing is fine, although not outstanding.

In all, the recording does not stand out as wonderful. It's a quite nice CD with a few less-than-nice moments (sung by the two women, I'm afraid). It certainly doesn't give the listener the full glory of Graun's music, but for anyone who simply must have this work, the recording's adequate (and occasionally better than adequate).

For first-time listeners to Graun, I recommend you look at purchasing the recording of "Cleoptra e Cesare" by Graun, performed with extreme beauty and stylish baroque approach. Now THAT is a treat...

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Fine Recording of Baroque Music, June 2, 2006

By 

Robert M. Nichols "Music Lover" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carl Heinrich Graun: Der Tod Jesu (Audio CD)

I give this 2 CD set 5 stars to offset the previous reviewer's lukewarm critique. While not perfect it certainly deserves a higher rating than 3 stars. Let's say 4 stars. The quality of the sound from this recording is quite high as we've come to expect from Hyperion. Also the female singers are better than I expected. While it would be nice if all women sang like Dawn Upshaw or Emma Kirkby I'm afraid that's not going to come to pass. Again the orchestration was more competent than the previous reviewer led me to expect. And if Bachs Passions are a little too dense and dark for your tastes you may prefer this version of the Passion of Christ. It's lighter and a little more joyful than Bach's. All in all a very nice baroque recording.

P.S. If you're lucky you may still be able to obtain a copy of Graun's opera "Cleopatra & Cesare" from Amazon. It's out of the catalog (an injustice to music lovers everywhere) but there may be some independent sellers who still have copies. Graun wrote 30 operas. When are more going to be recorded?!