Notes and Editorial Reviews
BACH
Arias and Duets
•
Anne Sofie von Otter (mez); Lars Ulrich Mortensen (org, cond); Karin Roman (sop); Anders J. Dahlin (ten); Tomas Medici (ten); Jakob Bloch Jespersen (bs); Concerto Copenhagen (period instruments)
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ARCHIV 4777467 (57:04
Text and Translation)
Anne Sofie von Otter grew up singing Bach in a choir and began her illustrious solo career with the
St. John Passion
. “This disc,” she says, “is like coming back full
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circle.” I wouldn’t put it quite that way. Surely, von Otter has too many vistas to explore, too many worlds yet to conquer before the circle can be closed. But she is revisiting her roots, and doing so in a characteristically imaginative way. Rather than recording three of the four alto cantatas, she has assembled a collection of 12 numbers from the cantatas, the
St. Matthew Passion
, the B-Minor Mass, and the
Magnificat
. Only six (from BWV 54, 197, 30, 74, the
Passion
, and the Mass) are solo arias; three (from BWV 197, BWV 60, and the
Magnificat
), are duets, and one (from BWV 117) is a chorus—sung here by four soloists. Furthermore, there are two instrumental sinfonias (from BWV 35 and 12). Thus, in an unusual demonstration of generosity, von Otter commands the spotlight in only half of the numbers on the disc. In any event, von Otter sings with her accustomed intelligence and conviction. The voice can be a tad thin, especially in the lowest register, but von Otter’s innate musicality more than compensates for that. Her choice of conductor Mortensen and his band was an excellent one; Concerto Copenhagen is yet another outstanding period-instruments ensemble. Overall, this is a rewarding disc, but one that falls a little short of essential.
FANFARE: George Chien
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Works on This Recording
4.
Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244: no 47, Erbarme dich by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano),
Fredrik From (Violin)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: ?1727; Leipzig, Germany
9.
Magnificat in D major, BWV 243: Et misericordia by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728-1731; Leipzig, Germany
12.
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Agnus Dei by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1747-1749; Leipzig, Germany
Sound Samples
Cantata No.54: "Widerstehe doch der Sünde", BWV54: Widerstehe doch der Sünde
Cantata, BWV 197 "Gott ist unsere Zuversicht": Aria: Schläfert aller Sorgen Kummer
Cantata, BWV99: 5. Aria-Duet: Wenn des Kreuzes Bitterkeiten
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 / Part Two: No.47 Aria (Alto): "Erbarme dich, mein Gott"
Cantata No.30 "Freue dich, erlöste Schar", BWV 30: 5. Aria: Kommt, ihr angefocht'nen Sünder
Cantata No.35 "Geist und Seele wird verwirret", BWV 35: 1. Sinfonia
Cantata: "Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten" BWV 74: 7. Aria: Nichts kann mich erretten
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen Cantata, BWV 12: Sinfonia
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Agnus Dei
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: Aria (Duet): "Et misericordia"
Cantata, BWV 60 "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort": 1. Duett: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort / Herr, ich warte
Cantata, BWV117: 1. Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
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