Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - Bach Cantatas BWV 82 and 199

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Craig Smith (Conductor), Emmanuel Music Orchestra (Orchestra), Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (Performer), Lorraine Hunt (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Lorraine Hunt
• Orchestra: Emmanuel Music Orchestra
• Conductor: Craig Smith
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B0000AOVTI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,224 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson has been scantily represented on CD, and that makes this gorgeous, deeply felt release all the more valuable. Here she sings two Bach cantatas composed for solo voice. Her mezzo is not particularly heavy, but it can darken or lighten expressively, and she uses its dusky qualities handsomely. Ich habe genug was originally written for solo bass, but Bach revised it a few years later. The way the voice works with and around a solo oboe (amid the accompanying strings) is beautiful. Of particular note are the aria "Schlummert ein"--a lullaby which Lieberson sings with a long, sustained, hushed tone--and the final aria, in which the singer looks forward to her death and eternal peace; the latter is remarkable for its joyful, flowery vocal line, as upbeat as the lullaby is serene. Lieberson catches the mood, and her rhythmic accuracy, leaning on the beat, brings out the joy in the singer's religious fervor. The second cantata, similarly scored with a prominent solo oboe, begins with a recitative ("My heart swims in blood") and is a confession of guilt; by its close the tone has again turned vivacious, as the sinner looks forward to salvation. Lieberson's voice is capable of level upon level of dynamics, her soft singing is as impressive as her more outgoing expressions. This is a beautiful disc from an important singer. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - simply a phenomenon!, October 16, 2003

By	Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

For those who have had the ecstatic pleasure of hearing Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in person this CD of two luminously performed Bach Cantatas will be no surprise, and will even be a welcome reprise. Surely one of the most sensitive, vocally gifted, insightful singers before the public today, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is destined to become known throughout the world as the megastar she truly is. This may be despite her apparent selflessness of interpreting music as complex and subtle as Bach's cantatas # 82 and #199. Most singers who approach the Baroque repertoire emphasize pyrotechnic execution of Bach's seemingly brutal writing. Hunt Lieberson finds the poetry and the essence of the words and wraps them effortlessly with the music into extended moments of communication. In both of these cantatas the solo oboe is treated less like an incidental obbligato than as a voice, equal to the vocal line and to the orchestra in the singer's approach. Everything is in its place, the lush beauty of her mezzo soprano timbre is nothing short of stunning, and her musicianship qualifies her as a true 'Musician's Musician.' In some circles that connotation might suggest that this is a technically fine but 'dry' performer: Hunt Lieberson is without a doubt one of the most warmly compassionate singers of our time. This CD deserves not only the Grammy, but it also deserves a place in the collection of every music lover - Baroque and beyond. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson is a Phenomenon.

187 of 214 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Online stupidity, March 12, 2004

By	Thomas Frey (Cincinnati, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This is not addressed to any particular cd, but to the woeful ignorance of Amazon.com in regard to classical music, particularly classical vocal music. My case lies in your "listen to" features that are supposed,I would assume, to allow a propective buyer to hear THE VOCALIST. What whoever manages thess things obviously does know or care about is that most classical vocals (arias, cantatas, songs etc.) have long orchestral introductions, so that your exceedingly generous 30 seconds of music often does not allow one to hear the VOCALIST!!!
If you do desire to sell classical vocal cds, why don't you do the smart thing and select that 30 seconds somewhere within the piece, so that one might more readily hear the VOCALIST and not 30 seconds of intro music. I doubt very much that you will listen to or act upon my suggestions as there is nothing more stubborn or resistant to change as stupidity.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ethereal, July 15, 2005

By	Ahhling "Ahhling" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I admit to being a novice at hearing a lot of classical vocal music. I do listen to operas and I quite enjoy a lot of Bach - he is my favorite composer. I have heard of Lieberson a lot over the past few years. Last week, I stayed as a guest in a house where this cd was playing and I felt my whole spirit rise up. The musical selections are truly sublime and Ms Lieberson's voice is so magical. I enjoyed listening to it in perfect silence so that each note was audible and appreciated. It's truly a masterpiece. Thank goodness that music of this quality is still produced and out there. Thanks to the great master Johann and to the ethereal and talented Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.