JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

"It’s uncanny how often discs of Bach cantatas include at least one previously unfamiliar gem - an aria, chorus or entire work. On this latest release, taken from the penultimate concert (given at St Bartholomew’s, New York) of Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s absurd, glorious Bach Cantatas Pilgrimage of 2000, the priceless discovery for me is the opening aria of Cantata 151, Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt. Rachel Beckett’s obbligato flute and Gillian Keith’s soprano mesmerise both in its outer sections - a beautiful, haunting lullaby - and in the joyful dance they enclose. That’s not, however, to say that the rest is any the less affecting. The four arias of Cantata 57, Selig is der Mann, the wonderfully imaginative shadings of Cantata 64, Sehet, welch eine Liebe, and the sheer exuberance of Cantata 133, Ich freue mich in dir all represent Bach at his very best. The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists give everything with palpable affection their excellent performances only enhanced by a certain touching, deeply satisfied weariness."

"...Bring one thing away from this disc and it may well be Bach’s genius in responding to this season in multiple ways; none of them maudlin – even to our perhaps jaded sensibilities about it. We as listeners could not in turn respond to that response were it not for the outstanding musicianship and conviction of these probably weary but still utterly inspired musicians. If you’re collecting the SDG series, don’t hesitate; if you have these cantatas in either of the other sets, you won’t be disappointed at the vigor and control of these four performances."

"...This programme is a delight from start to finish and the music shows Bach’s skill and perspicacity at responding in different ways to differing aspects of the Lutheran interpretation of the Christmas message. As ever in this series the standard of performance is spectacular and Sir John is a superb guide to the music, whether as conductor or annotator.  This unfolding series goes from strength to strength and I look forward with the keenest possible anticipation to further releases in 2007."
 

"The latest instalment in this fascinating, award-winning Bach series. This new addition to the pioneering collection of discs from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage features, appropriately enough, four cantatas written for the Second and Third Days of Christmas.

One can only marvel at the sheer variety of Bach’s word setting, the intense depth of emotion, and his finely tuned sense of the dramatic. Listen, for example, to the wonderful exchange of phrases between the solo alto, oboe d’amore and continuo in BMV 64 Sehet, welch eine Liebe; the incredible intimacy of BMV 151 Süßer Trost; the yearning soprano aria of BMV 57, a sorrowing, glacially paced sarabande cast in a tragic C minor; and finally the opening chorus of BMV 133 Ich feue mich in dir, which so thrillingly conveys the festiveness of Christmas time.

Sumptuously packaged with full texts (in both German and English) and a fascinating introductory essay by conductor John Eliot Gardiner, this disc comes with the very highest recommendation."

Rob Ainsley