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)
•
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
1.
Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54: no 1, Widerstehe doch der Sünde by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1714; Cöthen, Germany
2.
Gott ist unser Zuversicht, BWV 197: no 3, Schläfert aller Sorgenkummer by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1739-1742; Leipzig, Germany
3.
Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99: Wenn des Kreuzes Bitterkeiten by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano),
Karin Roman (Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1724; Leipzig, Germany
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
5.
Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30: Kommt, ihr angefochtnen Sünder by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1738; Leipzig, Germany
6.
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35: no 1, Sinfonia in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1726; Leipzig, Germany
7.
Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74: no 7, Nichts kann mich erretten by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Leipzig, Germany
8.
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12: no 1, Sinfonia in F minor by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1714; Cöthen, 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
10.
O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano),
Anders J. Dahlin (Countertenor)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
11.
Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117: Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Karin Roman (Soprano),
Jakob Bloch Jesperen (Bass),
Tomas Medici (Tenor),
Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Concerto Copenhagen
Period: Baroque
Written: 1724; 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
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