St John Passion (Hybr) [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import]

Netherlands Bach Society (Artist), Caroline (Artist), De Groot (Artist), Daniels (Artist), Turk (Artist), McLeod (Artist), Ramselaar (Artist), Bach (Composer), Jos van Veldhoven (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Jos van Veldhoven
• Composer: Bach
• Audio CD (December 8, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
• Label: Channel Classics
• ASIN: B002QJ51L6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,364 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 1. Herr, unser Herrscher, dessen Ruhm

2. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 2. Jesus ging mir seinen Jüngern... / Jesum von Nazareth / Jesus spr

3. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 3. O grosse Lieb, o Lieb ohn alle Masse

4. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 4. Auf dass das Wort erfüllet würde...

5. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 5. Dein Will gescheh, Herr Gott, zugleich

6. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 6. Die Schar aber und der Oberhauptmann...

7. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 7. Aria. Von den Stricken meiner Sünden

8. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 8. Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesus...

9. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 9. Aria. Ich folge dir gleichfalls mit freudigen Schritten

10. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 1. No. 10. Derselbige Jünger war dem Hohenpriester bekannt...

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 15. Christus, der uns selig macht

2. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 16. Da führeten sie Jesum... / Wäre dieser nicht ein Übeltäter... /

3. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 17. Ach grosser König, gross zu allen Zeiten

4. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 18. Da sprach Pilatus zu ihm... / Nicht diesen, diesen nicht... / Ba

5. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 19. Arioso. Betrachte, meine Seel, mit ängstlichem Vergnügen

6. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 20. Aria. Erwäge, wie sein blutgefärbter Rücken

7. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 21. Und die Kriegsknechte flochten... / Sei gegrüsset, lieber Jüdenk

8. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 22. Durch dein Gefängnis, Gottes Sohn...

9. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 23. Die Jüden aber schrieen... / Lässest du diesen los... / Da Pilat

10. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Part 2. No. 24. Arie und Chor. Eilt, ihr angefochtnen Seelen

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Performance and Sound, May 2, 2011

By 

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

This review is from: St John Passion (Hybr) (Audio CD)

This performance aims to replicate the premiere of the St. John Passion on Good Friday 1724--Bach's first full year as Kantor in Leipzig. I find the 1724 version greatly preferable to the 1725 revision, used in some recent recordings, which omits the profound 10-minute long opening chorus "Herr, unser herrscher" ("Lord, our ruler").

Although conductor Jos van Veldhoven has concluded that Bach had relatively few musicians at his disposal in 1724, this is not a one-voice-per-part performance. In addition to the six vocal soloists, Veldhoven employs four ripienists to add weight in the choral passages. These small forces clearly don't produce the volume of a large chorus, but they don't sound undernourished either. In fact, one reviewer calls this SACD recording "the best-sounding St. John available on disc." ClassicsToday says, "You won't find better, more deeply committed or finer-sounding renditions anywhere."

The vocalists and instrumentalists of the Netherlands Bach Society are superb. Gerd Turk excels as the evangelist, as does Stephan MacLeod as Christ. Soprano Caroline Stam beautifully performs the great aria "Ich folge dir gliechfalls" ("I follow you likewise"), although I somewhat miss the flute that Bach used in later years. The closing chorus "Ruht wohl" ("Rest in peace") is crystal clear and profoundly moving.

Addendum: In an essay accompanying his performance of the Bach: St. Matthew Passion, van Veldhoven explains that his interpretation has been influenced by Daniel Melamed's 2005 book, Hearing Bach's Passions. After listening to that performance, I was moved to read the Melamed's volume, which I recommend without reservation to all lovers of Bach's passions. In a highly well written and accessible manner, Melamed illuminates many of the current issues surrounding the passions, including their performing forces, place in the liturgy, multiple versions, and what it means to listen to them today.

The original version of this recording included a 192-page book containing the libretto, interpretative essays, and illustrations taken from the collection of the Catharijneconvent museum in Utrecht. According to the Channel Classics website, it appears that this reissue lacks the illustrated book.

5.0 out of 5 stars I second everything the first reviewer said, February 11, 2012

By 

Phone Owner - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St John Passion (Hybr) (Audio CD)

The best recording of this Passion I've heard. The singers sound like they're in our living room, not veiled behind 44 kHz PCM. A wonderful experience!