Bach: Magnificat & Christmas Cantata 63: Reconstruction of Bach's first Christmas Vespers in Leipzig
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J. S. BACH
Bach: Magnificat & Christmas Cantata 63: Reconstruction of Bach's first Christmas Vespers in Leipzig
Julia Doyle, Joanne Lunn, Clare Wilkinson, Nicholas Mulroy, Matthew Brook / Dunedin Consort, John Butt
[ Linn SACD / Hybrid SACD ]
Release Date: Friday 16 October 2015
This is the premiere recording of J.S. Bach's Magnificat heard for the first time within its original liturgical context, alongside the beautiful Christmas Cantata. The first 1000 copies of the disc will also include a free bonus disc of highlights from the Consort's Gramophone Award-winning seasonal favourite 'Handel: Messiah'.
Dunedin Consort recreates Bach's first Christmas at Leipzig (Vespers in the Nikolaikirche, 25 December 1723); the recording opens with a Gabrieli motet and includes organ preludes and a seasonal congregational chorale.
Director John Butt has given listeners an interpretation that will provide a refreshing outlook on this masterpiece and will show the Magnificat in a completely new light.This recording marks the return of Dunedin Consort's star-studded cast including, Nicholas Mulroy, Matthew Brook, Joanne Lunn and Clare Wilkinson plus newcomer Julia Doyle.
About the Artist
Butt's liturguical reconstruction of Bach's John Passion was named a Critics Choice by BBC Radio 3 CD Review and Gramophone, as well as being named Recording of the Month by three separate publications.
The Dunedin Consort has established a reputation as one of the finest period performance choirs around, under the direction of prize-winning historical performance specialist John Butt OBE.The multi-award-winning Dunedin Consort has won praise for the natural style of its soloists and renown for the virtuosity of its singers.
"This is one of the most enjoyable and stimulating Bach discs to have come my way. The performance standards are uniformly excellent and the music is life-enhancing. That said, I also admire greatly the scholarship, lightly worn, that has gone into the preparation of this project, which is most imaginatively conceived. When you factor in also a fine, clear recording, engineered by Philip Hobbs and Robert Cammidge, as well as scholarly and eminently readable notes by John Butt this is a compelling package for Bach collectors. Thinking back to the uplifting sounds I've heard in John Butt's jubilant rendition of the opening movement of BWV 63, I'm in no doubt that I shall be listening to this superb disc at some stage on Christmas morning." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Oct 2015)
"There are interesting textual changes, the playing and singing are terrific, and Butt creates a very convincing congregational hymn with organ flourishes. But the highlight of the disc is the Christmas Cantata 63, brilliantly done with such expressive exuberance that it should have had (but certainly did not) the Leipzigers dancing in the aisles with joy at the arrival of their new Kapellmeister." (Five Stars The Guardian)
"Another bull's-eye hit from John Butt's Dunedin Consort… interesting textual changes, the playing and singing are terrific, and Butt creates a very convincing congregational hymn with organ flourishes… the highlight of the disc is the Christmas Cantata 63, brilliantly done with such expressive exuberance." (The Observer)
'This is a beautifully paced, exhilaratingly executed performance' (Choral & Song Choice BBC Music Christmas 2015)
Tracks:
Bach, J S:
Magnificat in E flat major, BWV243a
Chorale Prelude BWV600 'Gott, durch deine Guete'
Cantata BWV63 'Christen, aetzet diesen Tag'
Gabrieli, G:
Hodie Christus natus est a 10
