Search - Sir Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, Gillian Keith :: Cantatas, Vol. 7

PER USUAL

GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 11/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This ninth release (volume 7) of JS Bach's Cantatas performed by the Monteverdi Choir, the English Baroque Soloist and directed by John Eliot Gardiner is filled with Cantatas that are supplicant (especially on the first disc) and filled with praise and adoration (especially on the second disc). These cantatas are filled with Trumpet fanfares and drums and they are very uplifting especially as performed by the aforesaid forces.



Per usual, the works in Volume Seven are performed by Gardiner and his forces magnificently! Listen to the opening chorus of BWV 78 on the first disc and the Choral "Ach Herr, lass deir lieb" on the second disc--glorious! The orchestra and chorus are wonderful. Again, I was very much impressed with the soloist too.



Malin Hartelius, soprano, posses a sweet clear and very flexible voice. Listen to her aria on the second disc, tract 18. She is also great in the rather familiar duet with alto "Wir elin mit schwachen" tract 8, first disc. Tenor, James Gilchrist, once again is most impressive. He displays a wonderful legato in his aria in the first disc tract 10 and his virtuosity is astounding in tract 6 of the second disc. Bass Peter Harvey sings with a full, rich and flexible voice. His aria on tract 16 of the second disc is most impressive.



In conclusion, Volume Seven is a most impressive release. I continue my adoration of Gardiner's "Bach Pilgrimage" and I DO look forward to future releases.

"

Astonishing recording that is a must have

E. Anagnost | Southern California | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have several volumes of the Gardiner Bach pilgrimmage recordings and they can all be highly recommended, but Volume 7 is one of the crown jewels of that set. Of course the stunning opening chorus of Cantata 78 will be a highlight for many listeners on the first disk (the virtuosity of the Monteverdi Choir is breathtaking), but the second disk recorded in Bremen is even more superb. James Gilchrist's soaring rendition of the spellbinding aria "Bleibt, ihr Engel, bleibt bei mir!" from Cantata 19 is absolutely unforgettable and is one of the highlights in the entire Bach pilgrammage recordings. The remarkable recording of the orphaned Cantata 50 is another one of the gems on disk 2. The sound as usual is stunning, the Monteverdi chorus and English Baroque soloists are at their absolute best.



If you can't afford to buy the entire series but want to sample the series, Volume 7 is where I would start. This volume shows off the Bach cantatas in all of their incomparable glory and the sonic quality of the recordings makes these disks a must have for any collection. This volume cannot be recommended highly enough."