Customer Reviews

J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 1

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Anyone interested in these cantatas has likely discovered that they had been begun under the Erato label in the early 90's and were discontinued after volume 12, disconcerting some. Ton Koopman, unabashed, obtained his own label, continuing the series (which is planned to finish at volume 22), even returning to the early volumes in re-issues under the new Challenge Classics covering. This volume is the first re-issue and parallels the new releases in the series.

A side note for those who want only the sacred cantatas: volumes 4 & 5 are composed entirely of the secular cantatas.

The tempi have been slowed slightly from the original Erato releases, but, have no fear, Koopman knows what he is doing. "Ich hatte viel Bekummernis" alone is worth the money, and Kai Wessel's counter-tenor is a treat throughout. Reformed Protestant theology, the counterpoint of Bach, and the wonder of the Baroque era, all contribute to a series to which the initiate will turn often for pleasure.

Anyone who has been following Ton Koopman's interpretations of J.S. Bach's works over the years knows that Koopman is probably one of the best (if not the best) in the business. The man has mostly focused his music on the Baroque era, and has rarely gone later than Mozart.

With that said, after purchasing this volume on iTunes, I was certainly not disappointed in making this purchase. Koopman once again displays his conducting prowess with the release of this recording. Granted, it is long, but that is to be expected when dealing with a highly prolific and gifted composer like Bach was.

While I am not a musicologist by any means like some of my fellow reviewers are, I can at least appreciate the lifetime of devotion that Koopman has made with regard to music. It should come as no surprise to anyone that he received the Order of the Netherlands Lion in April 2003 for his contributions to music, and this recording is yet another fine example of why he received that prestigious award.

The tensile presence juxtaposed in these recordings with the full throated power and resonance of the music makes this recording a treasure. It transends time.

Sam the Bach nut says that the Koopman collection is the best of the sets of all the cantatas.