St Matthew Passion

J.S. Bach (Artist), Ameling (Artist), Finnilae (Artist), Mccoy (Artist), Luxon (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Vanguard Classics
• ASIN: B0000023DF
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,719 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Double Chorus & Boys Choir

2. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

3. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Chorale

4. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Double Chorus

6. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

See all 33 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

2. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Double Chorus

3. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Alto Aria And Chorus II

4. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Chorale

6. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

2. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Soprano Recit.

3. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Soprano Aria

4. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Dramatic Recit.

5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Alto Recit.

6. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Alto Aria

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb tempi, April 3, 2005

By 

J. G. Vogtlander (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: St Matthew Passion (Audio CD)

To my opinion, the key to the ultimate listening experience is the right tempi. Bach should dance, but not in St Matthews Passion. How on earth can you dance at "Kommt, ihr Toechter helf mir klagen" (opening choir) or " Wir setzen uns mit Traenen nieder" (closing choir). In most modern performances you hear Bach at Ferrari like tempi, to make it dance. Performances of 40 years ago are really the opposite: they are so slow that you only hear tears but no Bach.

Bach Metthews should relate to a gentle walk. You should feel the movements but it should be calm.

I live in The Netherlands, the country where the St Matthews Passion is very much part of the national musical culture (most of us listen to St Matthews every year at the Sunday or the Friday before Eastern). I really hope that next year the tempi will be back where they should be: at the tempi of this Vanguard Classic Recording.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Spiritual Performance, December 18, 2010

By 

EDWARD B PAULISSIAN (Northbrook, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St Matthew Passion (Audio CD)

I am in complete agreement with both J. P. Vogtlander and Brian Price.

Like Brian Price, my first version and private hearing of this Magnificent Piece was its Highlights on a Vanguard Everyman Stereo Cassette (CSRV 377), which I purchasd over 25 years ago.
And yes, I still often listen to it especially on every "Good Friday"!
Recently, I was lucky in finding a 1993 re-issued complete 3-CD set of this recording on Amazon.com.

I have also, Frequently, listened to my other six versions of St. Matthew Passion:

1. An Alpha Century DVD. With Stephen Cleobury & Brandnburg Consort.
2. A Harmonia Mundi 3-CD Set. With Gustav leonhardt & Le Petite Bande.
3. A Eurodisc 4-LP Set. With Mauersberger & The Leipzig Gwandehaus Orchestra.
4. A Phillips 3-Digital Cassette Set. With Peter Schreirer & The Staatskapelle Dresden.
5. A DG LP (Highlights). With Herbert Von Karajan & The Berlin Philharmonic.
6. A Naxos CD (Highlights). With Geza Oberfront & The Hungarian State Orchestra.

But, after a quarter of a Century, I believe, that, this Vanguard Recording of Johannes Somary conducting The English Chamber Orchestra, The Renowned Soloists, The Ambrosian Singers and The Desborough School Boys' Choir is, still, the best I have ever heard.

As J. P. Vogtlander has, so touchingly, pointed out, this is the most melodic and spiritually effective performance that deeply, and yet softly, touches one's heart and soul.
Just listen to Brigit Finnilae as she sings my favorite Alto Aria: "Erbarme dich" (# 47):
Have mercy Lord
For the Sake of my tears
Look on my heart and eyes
Both weep to Thee bitterly
Have Mercy
Her deep, resonating and beautiful vooice is full of emotion and the Accompanying violin is tenderly weeping along her side.
I hope that, with present day tecchnology, a new Re-Mastered version of this piece will be issued soon.
Meanwhile the JS Bach lovers should grab a copy of this set if they have not yet own it.

Edward B. Paulissian, MD