calaf
1000+ Head-Fier
I have just received the 11th issue of the Bach Cantatas series by Gardiner & co (confusingly labeled as volume 22)
This release contains six Easter cantatas (BWM 4, 31, 66, 6, 134, and 135) recorded in Eisenach in the church where Bach was baptized and learned to sing. BWM 4 is definitely the pinnacle of the series so far. Perfect is the only adjective that makes justice to the singing of Monteverdi choir here. It knocks my socks off to think that this comes from a single take in a live concert recording
Besides technical perfection (which includes the recording engineers), one really has the impression that Gardiner knows what works in this piece and that everyone was exalted by the occasion. I am not a very spiritual person, but listening to this cantata was truly a mystical experience!
BWM 31 contains the "Final Hour" lullaby for soprano and oboe. Great job in particular by Katharine Arfken (the oboist) who received "final page honours" (the booklet of every issue of the series is concluded by a different soloist writing about their personal memories of the recording).
BWM 66 was adapted from a birthday cantata and it does show. I was really impressed by the orchestra work (with some beautiful violin solo). For some reason, the church acoustics worked particularly well in this piece (e.g. in the contrast between violins and bassons).
The second CD (containing BWM 6, 134, and 135) is not quite as exceptional as the first one but still very good stuff. In particular in BWM 134 you notice what is perhaps the weakest point of Gardiner's Armada: the Alto soloist is no Andreas Scholl and he has lots to do in this cantata. Never mind because the following BWM 135 is a delicious, courtly miniature (not even 9') which concludes with a smile what instantly became my favourite Gardiner's Bach recording, and could certainly become my favourite Bach recording overall.
If you don't feel like shelling out $30+ for the whole set, at least download the eight BWM 4 movements when they'll appear on emusic or iTunes. You won't regret it!
This release contains six Easter cantatas (BWM 4, 31, 66, 6, 134, and 135) recorded in Eisenach in the church where Bach was baptized and learned to sing. BWM 4 is definitely the pinnacle of the series so far. Perfect is the only adjective that makes justice to the singing of Monteverdi choir here. It knocks my socks off to think that this comes from a single take in a live concert recording
Besides technical perfection (which includes the recording engineers), one really has the impression that Gardiner knows what works in this piece and that everyone was exalted by the occasion. I am not a very spiritual person, but listening to this cantata was truly a mystical experience!
BWM 31 contains the "Final Hour" lullaby for soprano and oboe. Great job in particular by Katharine Arfken (the oboist) who received "final page honours" (the booklet of every issue of the series is concluded by a different soloist writing about their personal memories of the recording).
BWM 66 was adapted from a birthday cantata and it does show. I was really impressed by the orchestra work (with some beautiful violin solo). For some reason, the church acoustics worked particularly well in this piece (e.g. in the contrast between violins and bassons).
The second CD (containing BWM 6, 134, and 135) is not quite as exceptional as the first one but still very good stuff. In particular in BWM 134 you notice what is perhaps the weakest point of Gardiner's Armada: the Alto soloist is no Andreas Scholl and he has lots to do in this cantata. Never mind because the following BWM 135 is a delicious, courtly miniature (not even 9') which concludes with a smile what instantly became my favourite Gardiner's Bach recording, and could certainly become my favourite Bach recording overall.
If you don't feel like shelling out $30+ for the whole set, at least download the eight BWM 4 movements when they'll appear on emusic or iTunes. You won't regret it!
