Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists :: Bach Cantatas, Vol. 24: Altenberg, Warwick

Cantatas on Discs.

Vegan Daddy | Roslyn, WA | 11/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This really isn't a review but more of a helper for potential buyers. Included is a list of the cantatas contained on this set (since Amazon.com only lists them by their name and not BWV #).



The recording is Gardiner's usual high quality, meticulous work. You will not be disappointed with the sound (however, personally, I think Gardiner takes the trumpet pieces a smidge too fast).



Cantatas contained on this set:



Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12



Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, aber die Welt wird sich Freuen, BWV 103



Es ist euch gut, das ich hingehe, BWV 108



Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117



Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen, BWV 146



Wo gehest du hin?, BWV 166

"

The pilgrimage continues

GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 01/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Obviously I've, joined (by purchasing the recordings) John E. Gardiner's Bach Cantata Pilgrimage and I'm most certainly enjoying the journey. As I have expressed on this board regarding the two previous sets of this series, I'm enthralled in every way with these recordings. This third release (actually Volume 24) is no exception. Simply put, John Elliott Gardiner and his forces therein are stupendous in every way. It is extremely evident that Gardiner has worked very diligently in presenting these works. The results are superb. I own other "complete sets" of the cantatas; however, this new set, so far, really touches my very soul in ways that the other recordings have yet to do. Gardiner's approach has made me, keenly aware, once again, of the cantatas' rich musical beauties--I truly feel that they find dear ole Johann at his very best! As I've expressed in my reviews of the first two volumes, I don't look for religious edification from these works because really my main goal is to simply hear and enjoy Bach's musical genius in all its glory. Indeed these recordings exhibit in an extraordinary way Bach's compositional genius. (He certainly knew his "way around a choir loft!" composing some extraordinarily great music for same!) The choir, orchestra and the soloist in these recordings are outstanding! This Volume (24) certainly contains vast amounts of Johann Sebastian's glorious music exhibiting large amounts of beautiful music performed by all involved exquisitely. Just listen to the beginning of `Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" GORGEOUS! Disc one of Volume 24 finds Bach at his darkest, most sorrowful and most intense whereas, Disc two finds him at his most hopeful. Those moods are delivered by Gardiner and his forces splendidly. I must now praise especially some of the soloist in this Volume 24.



I've notated on this board that I usually don't have too much of an appreciation or tolerance for the countertenor voice (o.k., "man your battle stations authenticity police"). However, Countertenors Robin Tyson and William Towers, in this recording, display very fine and easy on the (my) ear voices with nary a hoot in evidence. The other soloists are splendid too negotiating Bach's tricky vocal writing wonderfully, easily and tunefully displaying rich and full but flexible voices able to sing the ornamentation accurately and beautifully.

The tenor soloist (Mark Padmore and James Gilchrist) are stupendous possessing beautiful flexible and when needed heroic voices!



The orchestra and chorus are splendid also. The "original" instruments are played extremely well plus the chorus is (thank god) free of unchanged pubescent boys' voices using very young (boyish??) sounding women's voices very well; however they are indeed able to render Bach's vocal demands effortlessly.



The recording is great exhibiting a clear and warm sound. Although taped in front of an audience, I was not aware of that fact-I heard not a peep from the people in attendance (obviously the audience was extremely healthy with no colds or influenza. (Not a cough or sneeze to be heard!) The CDs are enclosed in a very informative booklet with loads of in depth notes by Gardiner himself outlining the background of the recordings and his thoughts on performing Bach's cantatas plus the history of the cantatas in Volume 24.



If you want to hear some really glorious Bach performed masterfully, buy this edition of Gardiner's pilgrimage.



Note: The highlight, for me, of Volume 24 is the Sinfonia in Tract 14 of the 1st disc. Bach used this in one of his harpsichord concertos except here we have an organ instead of the harpsichord. The organist and Gardiner's forces give it a wonderfully fearce reading (The organist is "on fire" I bet smoke was coming out of the pipes)--it's just good I was not in the audiance when this was recorded because I might have been inclined to stand up at the end of this sinfonia and shout Bravo!The audience would no doubt have thrown objects at me. It really is an exciting performance!!



(for details of what's contained in Volume 24 go to the previous reviewer-he has done a superlative job of listing the contents therein)

"

Ethereal

Drastic | Cascade, MD United States | 12/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is a wonder that Gardiner and everyone else associated with this series has kept quality of performance and recording so high throughout. I purchased this and about a dozen others in the series, and each is as heavenly as the other. Even if you have all the Bach Cantatas on recording already, odds are you will be happy with adding this interpretation. Close the doors, follow along with the script, and listen to music that can make an atheist weep."