Strahl

Everything about this 1967 recording is promising. Highly acclaimed Austrian soprano Rotraud Hansmann, the regal contralto Helen Watts, the effortless legato singing of tenor Kurt Equiluz, the equally wondrous baritone Max van Egmond. Famed for helping pave the way to informed historical performance practice, these excellent singers are joined by Concerto Amsterdam as Early Music performance pioneers often conducted by Frans Brüggen in the 1960s.

Brilliant Classics embarked on a daring project in the year 2000, the year of the 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's death: this budget label decided to release a complete set of Bach's works. They were not the only label to do so - Teldec and Haenssler both did as well - but the Brilliant Classics set stands out for several reasons. First, they attempted (though did not fully succeed) to create a complete set entirely recorded on period instruments, using historically informed performances.

The ultimate collection of the complete music of J.S. Bach. Having all of Bach's music at my fingertips is a dream come true. This astonishing collection of music is a historic event. Teldec has compiled an excellent collection of all the works of J.S. Bach, from well-known to the obscure, performed by a wide variety of highly respected musicians. There are many, many treasures included in this collection, for example: the cello suites performed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt now on cd for the first time. And the 4-cd set of chorales is stunning.

After a widely acclaimed St John Passion in 2020 (Gramophone Editor's Choice, BBC Music Magazine Choice, Trophée Radio Classique), Philippe Herreweghe and his Collegium Vocale Gent continue their in-depth exploration of the works of the composer who has earned them worldwide fame. Of the two cantatas recorded here, Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist BWV 45, written in 1726, is built around a very virtuosic, almost operatic bass solo setting scriptural words of Christ. Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198, which dates from the following year, was composed for the funeral of Christiane Eberhardine, Electress of Saxony and titular Queen of Poland, the daughter of the Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth and an ardent Lutheran, whose death had deeply affected the people of Leipzig.

Illness and death constantly disrupted the security of Bach's childhood and adulthood.We do not know when or for whom the "Actus tragicus"BWV 106 was written. Bach was in the habit of using compositional devices to illustrate theological points. In the central movement of BWV106 the earnest plea "Ja komm, Herr Jesu!" (Come, Lord Jesus!") is repeated more than 15 times, and the music demonstrates that the plea is not in vain. A spiritual longing for eternity with Christ emanates from the text and the music of the motet :'O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens Licht' BWV118/231(O Jesus Christ, light of my life). The motet was first given in 1736 at a Leipzig memorial service; we don't know for whom. Gardiner guides his chorus through the nine movement long motet with gentle confidence. His knowing control of the pace sustains both the long lines(reminiscent of the opening chorus to St. Matthew Passion)and the harmonic tension. This is truly a heart-rendingly beautiful motet.