Product Details

• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005R5H7
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,652 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Recorded in 2000 at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig where the composer worked as cantor for 25 years, this performance of Bach's Mass in B minor commemorates the 250th anniversary of his birthday. Conductor Georg Christoph Biller was himself cantor in 2000, while most of the ensemble has strong links with the Bach tradition. Hence, this is a faithful, if orthodox, rendering of a religious work that seems to transcend creed, a glorious musical valediction that soars aloft into the cathedral rafters and beyond. Certainly, this is the feeling evoked in the performances of English soprano Ruth Holton, among others. The power of the performances is poignantly contrasted with visual extracts of Bach's original score, his enfeebled handwriting indicative of his failing health. Yet the Mass in B minor has succeeded in achieving immortality and universality--a fine last testament from a composer who seems to have more resonance with contemporary audiences than most of his classical descendants. --David Stubbs

Product Description
The main focus of attention during the city of Leipzig's 10-day Bach festival was the Gewandhausorchestra's live performance of the sublime "Mass in B Minor, BWV 232." Recorded in the Church of Saint Thomas, where Bach served as musical director, the program features conductor Georg Christoph Biller, the cantor of St. Thomas Church, and soloists Ruth Holton, Matthias Rexroth, Christoph Genz and Klaus Mertens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In glory of Bach !, December 25, 2002

By	IOANNIS DIMITROULIS (ZOGRAFOS, ATHENS GREECE) - See all my reviews

Recorded in 2000 at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig where the composer worked as Cantor for 25 years, this performance of Bach's Mass in B minor is a commemorative concert marking the 250th anniversary of his death. The conductor Georg Christoph Biller, holds the same post as Bach did more than 250 years ago. Since other reviewers did not point out any good elements for this performance I will try to focus on them. Although I agree that the intonation of the choir is not always perfect, this is not the only thing you should take into consideration for buying this DVD. The choir is an all-male chorus (and they are not professionals). This is perfectly acceptable for that era and they really try to do their best (which is very good indeed). The size of the choir though is much bigger than that anticipated in Bach's times. I do not mind watch them sharing scores. Some parts are tricky for them but I share their joy (and strain) in parts like "cum sancto spirito", "Sanctus" and "Osanna in excelsis". All soloists are good (especially Kaus Mertens, the bass). Instead of an alto this performance uses a countertenor (Matthias Rexroth), who is very good and adds to the authenticity. The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig is excellent throughout. Their forces are diminished as required by this baroque masterpiece, they forget their Mendelssohnian roots and never sound romantic, even if their practices are not totally authentic (their instruments of course are not - yes you miss the pleasure of valveless trumpets). Picture and sound are very good. Detail is crisp despite some minor edge enhancement. Instrument groups and choir are well defined especially in DTS (plain stereo is not bad at all). Camera work really serves the performance (bravo to director Robert Coles). The treatment is "orchestral" and the panning effects spectacular. This DVD exploits well the interior of the church. You see all that you want to see (at least I do), like Bach's organ, grave and the church he served as cantor. Orchestra and choir are placed up in the gallery. This adds to the visual delight and to a slight echo effect (the sound remains clear though). The audience is very quiet. The inclusion of anthems and verses between the various movements of the Mass is a plus (some are sung by the present cantor himself). I watched this DVD again and again. This is a large scale performance of the mass, but authenticists will not be disappointed. This is a commemorative concert. Bearing (at least) this in mind this DVD is a good investment. You want to honour Bach, don't you?

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Visit to the Thomaskirche, February 21, 2003

By	Matt (Des Moines, IA United States) - See all my reviews

The first concert I attended in the Thomaskirche was to hear the Thomanerchor, Gewandhaus Orchestra and soloists perform the St. John Passion in 1996. Someone here has described the boys of the Thomanerchor as not being professionals. If they are not, it must only be as the result of semantics, since the boys leave home at the age of 9 to live, eat, sleep, travel and sing together until leaving school at 18 or 19 and, during the academic year, giving weekly performances of Bach cantatas and other works. It's not too far a cry from how things were in Bach's day, except that the boys are a very select group and live in better and honored status. They live an exhausting schedule of performances. Aside from the unique experience of hearing Bach performed (very well) in his church by his choir, it was impressive to be there for a mainly local event. The German audience packed the place, of course, and were absolutely silent. At the conclusion, they sat in stillness for several minutes and then slowly departed in quiet.

My last trip took me to the performance of the B-minor Mass, a duplicate of this one, on the evening before this DVD was made (and 3 days after hearing the St. Matthew Passion in the church). Again, it was very impressive. Bach's grave was "dressed up". The interior of the church had been renovated from the neglected, smokey darkness of DDR days to the whiteness you see in this production. (One can still see the old inscription on the ground level announcing that here, on such and such a date, Dr. Martin Luther preached the Reformation in Leipzig.) In that performance, it was the Thomaskantor himself whose intonation was less than perfect - a noticeable distraction. As others have noted, you do get a good idea of how the church looks. You do not, however, see "the Bach organ". That instrument disappeared long, long ago. What you see behind the choir is the romantic-era "Sauer Orgel". There is a new Bach organ (seen on the right in long views in the DVD), done in white and complete with his monogram, in the nave balcony.

The Mass was sung "in liturgical style" with the inclusion of the hymns and chants prior to the non-varying portions of Bach's work. It almost seemed that it was being offerred less as a concert than as a commemoration for Bach, since it was performed, to the day, 250 years after he died only a few yards away in the old Thomasschule, which no longer exists.

It may be that the performance on this DVD is not the most technically perfect version in existence. But, for my money, it is (and was) the most genuine performance I'm ever likely to see and hear. After all, it was sung in Bach's church, where Bach is buried, by Bach's choir, a most remarkable group.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cum Sancto Spiritu, February 4, 2002

By A Customer

This is probably the best performance on DVD that we'll get of the B-Minor Mass. The concert is given in St. Thomas's Church in Leipzig before an audience. The orchestra is small, and the choir consists of boys of various ages (that is, the church choir). The alto solos are sung by a countertenor; the soprano by a woman. The recording and the musical performance are good as any I have on CD (I have five). I've never before heard of a boy's choir singing the bass and tenor lines as well as the soprano and alto. I like the German practice of having boys in the alto since one can hear the contrast between the silvery flute-like sopranos and the woody 'oboe-y' altos. I prefer that to the countertenors of the English choirs. The conducting and singing is not as incisive as I'm accustomed to hearing from the various luminaries of the authenticity movement, but that's not a criticism, only a description. The church is rather plain so the camera mostly lingers on the performers.