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Bach: St Matthew Passion / Klemperer, Pears, Ludwig, Et Al


Release Date: 04/10/2001 
Label:  Emi Great Recordings Of The Century Catalog #: 67542   Spars Code: ADD 
Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,  Otakar Kraus,  Sir Geraint Evans,  Helen Watts,   ... 
Conductor:  Otto Klemperer
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Philharmonia Chorus,  Hampstead Parish Church Boys' Choir
Number of Discs: 3 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 3 Hours 44 Mins. 

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This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.

Notes and Editorial Reviews

This may not be the most authentic of Bach performances but EMI have quite rightly included it in their 'Great Recordings of the Century' series. The 1962 recording has come brilliantly to life, with great impact and abundant atmosphere, while the orchestral playing, with the Philharmonia on top form, is of the highest possible quality.

The nature of the experience is apparent from the first bar, as Klemperer's magisterial slow tempo sets in for the opening chorus. Too slow, one might be tempted to think, but the concentration is such that doubts recede as the vision takes hold. The chorales too are particularly broad, and occasionally they do seem mannered, although the textures, beautifully separated by the clear recording, Read more are always full of interest. The contributions of the Hampstead Boys Choir are distinguished and add an extra finesse to all the numbers in which they participate.

Then there are the soloists, and if one seeks a reason to invest in this performance, it surely lies here. They are magnificent, both individually and as a team. The role of Evangelist particularly suits Peter Pears, for his voice is strongly characterised and seems just right for the role, while he is superbly complemented by Fischer-Dieskau, a great Bach singer, as Christ. The other roles are less central, but the artists are the leading singers of the day, and it shows.

Klemperer holds the whole performance under his magisterial spell, and as a result the concentration and the vision build stage by stage, making the experience thoroughly compelling. Of course the latest scholarship and performance practice calls his concept into question, but doubters should listen beyond the appearance offered by the opening bars and experience what this truly is: one of the great recordings of the century. Bach remains the most indestructible of composers, and there are different ways of performing his music. The tradition represented by Klemperer has much to tell us about this music.

-- Terry Barfoot, MusicWeb International
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Works on This Recording

1. Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Baritone), Otakar Kraus (Baritone), Sir Geraint Evans (Baritone),
Helen Watts (Alto), Wilfred Brown (Tenor), John Carol Case (Baritone),
Walter Berry (Bass), Nicolai Gedda (Tenor), Christa Ludwig (Alto),
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Soprano), Peter Pears (Tenor)
Conductor:  Otto Klemperer
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Philharmonia Chorus,  Hampstead Parish Church Boys' Choir
Period: Baroque 
Written: Circa 1727; Leipzig, Germany 
 Date of Recording: 1960-61 
Venue:  Kingsway Hall, London, England 
Length: 223 Minutes 58 Secs. 

Sound Samples

'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.1 Chor: Kommt, ihr Töchter
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.2 Rezitativ: Da Jesus diese Rede (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.3 Choral: Herzliebster Jesus (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.4 Rezitativ: Da versammelten sich die Hohempriester (Evangelist)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.6 Rezitativ: Da nun Jesus (Evangelist)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.7 Chor: Wozu dienet dieser Unrat? (Chor I/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.8 Rezitativ: Da das Jesus merkete (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.9 Rezitativ: Du lieber Heiland du (Alt/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.10 Arie: Buß' und Reu' (Alt/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.11 Rezitativ: Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer (Evangelist/Judas)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.12 Arie: Blute nur, du liebes Herz (Sopran/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.15 Rezitativ: Er sprach: Gehet hin (Evangelist/Jesus) - Herr, bin ich's? (Chor I/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.16 Choral: Ich bin's, ich sollte büssen (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.17 Rezitativ: Er antwortete und sprach: Der mit der Hand mit mir (Evangelist/Jesus/Judas)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.18 Rezitativ: Wiewohl mein Herz (Sopran/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.19 Arie: Ich will dir mein Herze schenken (Sopran/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.20 Rezitativ: Und da sie den Lobgesang (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.21 Choral: Erkenne mich, mein Hüter (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.22 Rezitativ: Petrus aber antwortete (Evangelist/Petrus/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.23 Choral: Ich will hier (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.24 Rezitativ: Da kam Jesus (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.25 Rezitativ: O Schmerz! (Tenor/Orchester I) Choral: Was ist die Ursach (Chor II/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.26 Arie: Ich will bei meinem Jesu (Tenor/Orchester I) mit Chor: - So schlafen unsre Sünden ein (Chor II/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.27 Rezitativ: Und ging hin wenig (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.28 Rezitativ: Der Heiland fällt (Baß/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.29 Arie: Gerne will ich mich bequemen (Baß/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.30 Rezitativ: Und er kam zu seinen Jüngern (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.31 Choral: Was mein Gott will (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.32 Rezitativ: Und er er kam (Evangelist/Jesus/Judas)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.33 Duett: So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen (Sopran/Alt/Orchester I/Chor II/Orchester II) -Chor: Sind Blitze, sind Donner (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.34 Rezitativ: Und siehe, einer aus denen (Evangelist/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART I: Nr.35 Choral: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross (Chor I II/Orchester I II/Ripieno)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.36 Ach, nun ist mein Jesus hin (Alt/Chor I) mit Chor: Wo ist denn dein Freund (Chor II/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.37 Rezitativ: Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten (Evangelist)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.38 Choral: Mir hat die Welt (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.39 Rezitativ: Und wiewohl viel falsche Zeugen herzutraten (Evangelist/Zwei Zeugen/Hohepriester)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.40 Mein Jesus schweigt (Tenor, 2 oboi, biola da gamba, continuo)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.41 Arie: Geduld, wenn mich falsche Zungen stechen (Tenor, viola da gamba, continuo)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.42 Rezitativ: Und der Hohepriester (Evangelist/Hohepriester/Jesus) mit Chor: Er ist des Todes schuldig! (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.43 Rezitativ: Da speieten sie (Evangelist) mit Chor: Weissage, weissage (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.44 Choral: Wer hat dich so geschlagen (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.45 Rezitativ: Petrus aber sass draussen im Palast (Evangelist/Zwei Mägde/Petrus) mit Chor: Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen (Chor II/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.46 Rezitativ: Da hub er an, sich zu verfluchen (Evangelist/Petrus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.47 Arie: Erbarme dich, mein Gott (Alt/Solo Violine/Orchester I)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.48 Choral: Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.49 Rezitativ: Des Morgens aber (Evangelist/Judas) mit Chor: Was gehet uns das an? (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.50 Rezitativ: Und er warf die Silberlinge (Evangelist/Zwei Priester)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.51 Arie: Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder! (Baß/Siki Violine/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.52 Rezitativ: Sie hielten aber einen Rat (Evangelist/Pilatus/Jesus)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.53 Choral: Befiehl du deine Wege (Chor I II/Orchester II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.54 Rezitativ: Auf das Fest aber hatte (Evangelist/Pilati Weib/Pilatus) mit Chor: Barabbam! LaB ihn kreuzigen! (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.55 Choral: Wie wunderbarlich (Chor I II/Orchester I II)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.57 Rezitativ: Er hat uns allen wohlgetan (Sopran /2 oboi da caccia/continuo)
'St Matthew Passion' BWV244 (2001 Digital Remaster), PART II: Nr.58 Arie: Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben (Sopran/Flöte/2 Oboi da caccia)

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