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Reviewer: George
Chien Here’s a gentle reminder that this disc has two of Bach’s “greatest hits”—three if you count the fact that the iconic chorale from Cantata 147 (aka “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”) is sung twice. The other is the soprano-alto duet, “Wir einen mit schwachen,” from Cantata 78. It’s also the first Bach recording I’ve encountered that mentions Doctor Who in its notes. (If that doesn’t get your attention, I just don’t know what will. But my lips are sealed. You’ll have to get your hands on the disc to find out why. I’ll say only that it’s buried in the bio section.) The performances are led by Peter Harvey, whose Bachian credentials, as John Eliot Gardiner’s favorite bass soloist, are matched only by Klaus Mertens (with Ton Koopman) and Peter Kooij (with Masaaki Suzuki and Philippe Herreweghe; he was also a major participant in Teldec’s Harnoncourt/ Leonhardt series). Unlike Gardiner, Harvey has aligned himself with Joshua Rifkin. He’s done away with the chorus, making his solo quartet key to the whole enterprise. Harvey himself is the bass. Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas is a relative newcomer to the world of Bach cantata recordings, although she has the distinction of having made the first recording of the newly discovered (2005) aria, Alles mit Gott. Daniel Taylor and James Gilchrist are, like Harvey, seasoned veterans in the genre, but, unlike Harvey, they’ve served many maestros. Like Gardiner and many other historically informed interpreters, Harvey favors quick, sometimes breath-taking tempos. I wonder whether, in a live setting, the soloist who follows a particularly robust one-to-a-part tutti movement needs to recover before proceeding. Certainly the faithful who “hasten with feeble yet steadfast steps” in Cantata 78 are sprinting, not jogging. Harvey’s steadfast collaborators are tested, but ultimately they are not feeble. The Magdalena Consort, founded by Harvey in 2008, has some unfamiliar names on its roster, a welcome indication that the UK’s pool of period instrument players is as deep as ever. In any case, they play well together. Representative of the group is Robert Farley, who makes many joyful noises on natural and slide trumpets in Cantata 147. This is an OK disc with some nice moments, but I wouldn’t pick these as my favorite versions of the cantatas. I prefer Herreweghe in Cantata 78 and Gardiner in No. 147. I haven’t a favorite for No. 150. Your move. | |
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