Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV244
$65.00
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J. S. BACH
Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV244
James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Hannah Morrison, Zoë Brookshaw, Charlotte Ashley, Reginald Mobley / Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner
[ Soli Deo Gloria / 2 CD ]
Release Date: Friday 24 February 2017
This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.
A new live recording of Bach's St Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion BWV 244), recorded in Pisa Cathedral during the Anima Mundi Festival as part of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra's 2016 tour.
As well as the full sung texts, the booklet includes both a programme note by Sir John Eliot Gardiner as well as his tour notes: Written both before and during their 6-month international tour - which began in Valencia in March and concluded with this performance in Pisa on 22 September - these include diary entries and notes given during rehearsals or sent in the aftermath of concerts to the performers (who were performing from memory).
All notes and texts are included in English, German and French translations.
"This stunning new live recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion (Matthauspassion BWV 244) was recorded in Pisa Cathedral during the Anima Mundi Festival as part of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra's 2016 tour. Conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the brilliant cast includes James Gilchrist as the Evangelist and Stephan Loges as Jesus. The Trinity Boys Choir adds an exciting color to this recording as well. The Monteverdi Choir was founded by Sir John Eliot Gardner in 1964. The ensemble's first performance was the Monteverdi Vespers in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. The group has become known worldwide for their stylistic conviction and their ability to perform an extensive repertoire, from Renaissance motets to Classical music of the Twentieth Century." Arkiv Music
"In over-all terms, this is the best of Gardiner's Matthew Passions. The balance between voices and instruments, not always perfect in that big acoustic in the flesh, has been beautifully captured by the recording editor. The tempi are ideal, with no racing through 'just because we can'. This is a strong and mature performance, and - should it indeed be the last - will be a fine testimony to Gardiner's style and intentions in the Matthew Passion." Early Music review
"If a Passion performance has no sense of community it has nothing, and this is surely the making of Gardiner's account...a thoughtfully moulded, expertly executed and deeply committed reading, so honestly communicative of its intent and so free of self-conscious monumentalism, sententiousness or melodramatics...I believe it to be one of his finest achievements." Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Baroque Vocal
