Bach: Johannespassion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

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Release Date: 04/01/1999
Label: Bis Catalog #: 921 Spars Code: DDD
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Ingrid Schmithüsen, Yoshikazu Mera, Gerd Türk, Makoto Sakurada, Yoshie Hida,
Chiyuki Urano, Peter Kooy
Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan

Number of Discs: 2
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 2 Hours 6 Mins.

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Notes & Reviews	Back to Top

It’s reported that, after a Passion performance (composer unknown), an elderly noble widow exclaimed: ‘God save us, my children! It’s just as if we were at a comic opera.’ Though Bach never wrote an opera, he was no stranger to the genre. His cantatas reflect the recitative/aria structure and the Passion story provided the missing element, dramatic narrative. In the theatre of his imagination, Bach’s response matched anything staged by his secular contemporaries. The music is dramatic from the start: dissonant wind above nervous violins and pulsating bass, before the choir prays of the glory and pain of the Passion. Suzuki balances the layers beautifully: the dense texture, recorded fairly close, retains every detail. Türk’s narrative as Evangelist is accompanied by harpsichord, with organ added for the words of Jesus. He sings with dramatic insight, though without the theatrical sensitivity which sets my benchmark – Rolfe-Johnson’s offhand approach to less consequential moments exemplifies the visionary realism of Gardiner and his team. The chorus is a fearsome mob – indignant, angry, self-righteous in turn. As the Christian congregation, its chorales flow without sanctimonious pauses. The soloists are superb in their eight arias, each differently coloured. Orchestral playing is meticulous, the intonation exemplary, even in the wind-players’ B flat minor graveyard, as the soprano’s heart ‘melts in floods of tears’ (No. 35). My benchmark remains. But if you prefer reverence to dramatic realism, this outstanding achievement will surely be for you. Performance: 5 (out of 5), Sound: 5 (out of 5) -- George Pratt, BBC Music Magazine


Works on This Recording		Back to Top

1.	Saint John Passion, BWV 245 by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performer: Ingrid Schmithüsen (Soprano), Yoshikazu Mera (Countertenor), Gerd Türk (Tenor), Makoto Sakurada (Tenor), Yoshie Hida (Soprano), Chiyuki Urano (Bass), Peter Kooy (Bass) Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki Orchestra/Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan Period: Baroque Written: 1724; Leipzig, Germany


Sound Samples				Back to Top

St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 1. Chorus: Herr, unser Herrscher, dessen Ruhm...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 2. Recitative: Jesus ging mit seinen Jungern... (Evangelist, Jesus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 3. Choral: O grosse Lieb', o Lieb'ohn'alle Masse...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 4. Recitative: Auf dass das Wort erfullet wurde... (Evangelist, Jesus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 5. Choral: Dein Will' gescheh', Herr Gott, zugleich...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 6. Recitative: Die Schar aber und der Oberhauptmann... (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 7. Aria: Von den Stricken meiner Sunden... (Alto)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 8. Recitative: Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesum nach... (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 9. Aria: Ich folge dir gleichfalls mit freudigen Schritten... (Soprano)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 10. Recitative: Derselbige Junger war dem Hohenpriester bekannt... (Evangelist, Magd, Petrus, Jesus, Diener)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 11. Choral: Wer hat dich so geschlagen...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 12. Recitative: Und Hannas sandte ihn gebunden... (Evangelist, Petrus, Diener, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 13. Aria: Ach, mein Sinn... (Tenor)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 14. Choral: Petrus, der nicht denkt zuruck...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 15. Choral: Christus, der uns selig macht...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 16. Recitative: Da fuhreten sie Jesum... (Evangelist, Pilatus, Jesus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 17. Choral: Ach, grosser Konig, gross zu allen Zeiten...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 18. Recitative: Da sprach Pilatus zu ihm... (Evangelist, Pilatus, Jesus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 19. Arioso: Betrachte, meine Seel', mit angstlichem Vergnugen... (Bass)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 20. Aria: Mein Jesu, ach! Dein schmerzhaft bitter Leiden... (Tenor)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 21. Recitative: Und die Kriegsknechte flochten... (Evangelist, Pilatus, Jesus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 22. Choral: Durch dein Gefangnis, Gottes Sohn...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 23. Recitative: Die Juden aber schrieen und sprachen (Evangelist, Pilatus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 24. Aria: Eilt, ihr angefocht'nen Seelen... (Bass, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 25. Recitative: Allda kreuzigten sie hin... (Evangelist, Pilatus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 26. Choral: In meines Herzens Grunde...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 27. Recitative: Die Kriegsknechte aber... (Evangelist, Jesus, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 28. Choral: Er nahm alles wohl in acht...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 29. Recitative: Und von Stund' an nahm sie der Junger... (Evangelist, Jesus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 30. Aria: Es ist vollbracht!... (Alto)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 31. Recitative: Und neiget sein Haupt und verschied. (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 32. Aria: Mein teurer Heiland, lass dich fragen... (Bass, Chorus)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 33. Recitative: Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriss... (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 34. Arioso: Mein Herz! in dem die ganze Welt... (Tenor)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 35. Aria: Zerfliesse, mein Herze, in Fluten der Zahren (Soprano)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 36. Recitative: Die Juden aber, dieweil es der Rusttag war... (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 37. Choral: O hilf, Christe, Gottes Sohn...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 38. Recitative: Darnach bat Pilatum Joseph von Arimathia... (Evangelist)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 39. Chorus: Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) 40. Choral: Ach, Herr, lass dein' lieb' Engelein...
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) Appendix (Version II): 11. Aria: Himmel, reisse, Welt, erbebe..., BWV 245a (Bass, Soprano)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) Appendix (Version II): 13. Aria: Zerschmettert mich, ihr Felsen und ihr Hugel..., BWV 245b (Tenor)
St. John Passion, BWV 245 (Version IV) Appendix (Version II): 19. Aria: Ach, windet euch nicht so, geplagte Seelen..., BWV 245c (Tenor)

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