Bach Cantatas

A warm welcome to this reissue which has a cleaner sound than the original L'OiseauLyre. Dame Janet is on what sounds to be her best form, with almost impeccable intonation and a warmth which gives the performances an intense glow. Vergnügte Ruh' begins with a haunting melody of such expressive dimensions that, for me, the remainder of the cantata is something of an emotional unwinding. On numerous other levels, however, the succeeding movements are satisfying and well contrasted with one another.

It is possible to have a lot of fun with this CD. Let me explain. I was sipping a glass of Pinot Grigiot with a very good friend; she has listened to Sebastian since she was six. There can be few nooks and crannies of his repertoire that she has not explored Ц including the cantatas. I slipped this CD into the player and said laconically 'What do you think of this new recording of BachТs СUns ist ein Kind geboren?' By the time we got to the second chorus, she was enthusiastic; at the beautiful alto aria, she was ecstatic.