Bach: Cantatas through the Liturgical Year, Vol. 12 - Kuijken

Accent ACC 25312
Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid
Classical - Vocal
Bach: Cantatas "Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" BWV 27, "Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedrigt werden" BWV 47, "Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" BWV 138, "Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn" BWV 96
Gerlinde Sämann (soprano)
Petra Noskaiová (alto)
Christoph Genz (tenor)
Jan Van der Crabben (bass)
La Petite Bande
Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor)
Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn - Cantata, BWV 96
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz - Cantata, BWV 138
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden - Cantata, BWV 47
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende - Cantata, BWV 27
Review by John Broggio - August 5, 2011
In this twelth volume (of a projected twenty), we are served up with four cantatas that were written for the 15th - 18th Sundays after Trinity:
"Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz", BWV 138
"Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende", BWV 27
"Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden", BWV 47
"Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn", BWV 96
In BWV 27 (that opens the disc), the alto aria "Wilkommen! will ich sagen" will be recognised by many and it is sung beautifully by Petra Noskaiova in a ravishing duet with the oboe playing of Patrick Beaugiraud. In BWV 47, the most prominent starring role is given to Gerlinde Samann in the soprano aria "Wer ein wahrer Christ will heissen" in duet with Sigiswald Kuijken himself on violin (it must be said that his intonation is a little rough around the edges by comparison). After playing (a close) "second fiddle" in BWV 27 & 47, the bass aria "Auf Gott stegt meine Zuversicht" gives Jan Van der Crabben a rightful chance to shine (here the duet is with the violins as a section). Lastly - and by no means least - tenor Christoph Genz gets his aria "Ach, ziehe die Seele mit Seilen..." in BWV 138; it is impossible to say which of these singers performs best - quite simply, all of them are on radient form either as soloists or together in the quartettos or chorales.
In the quartetto's that open each cantata performed here, Kuijken chooses tempi that must be nigh on perfection that allow the necessary depth of expression from instrumentalists and singers alike yet imbues the music with a wonderful sense of momentum that carries the listener on the crest of a wonderful emotional journey - indeed, the positioning of the orchestra and singers throughout amplifies the writing of Bach the opening quartettos. As ever, a more appropriately sombre tempo is chosen for the final chorales.
The sound is one of the best of the cycle to date, recorded in the Academiezaal Sint-Truiden (Belguim) in 2009, it has a natural bloom without excessive resonance that has sometimes eluded earlier releases.
Highly recommended.
Copyright © 2011 John Broggio and HRAudio.net
Performance:
Sonics (Multichannel):


Click here to report errors or omissions in the music details.