J.S.Bach - Matthaeus-Passion BWV 244

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This wonderful recording couples two of the most exciting early music talents currently performing, Ian Bostridge and Andreas Scholl, and is worth buying for their contributions alone. Bostridge rivals a former great Evangelist, Peter Schreier, in the fierce intelligence of his approach and the perfect clarity of his diction, but brings a different, more quicksilver, sense of drama to the proceedings. Unsurprisingly, considering the importance of the Evangelist's role, this sets the tone for the whole recording--unshowy, pure; even cool. Andreas Scholl confirms his status as one of the truly great voices with a performance of "Ebarme dich" almost painful in its beauty, and the other soloists too all have clear, attractive voices. The downside is the lack of visceral savagery in the choral interjections: everything is precise, clean and accurate, but, when they cry out for Barabbas to be released and then Christ to be crucified, it does not match the shocking intensity of some other performances. This distanced, more serene sense of drama has its attractions too, and overall this is an excellent addition to the canon of Matthew Passion recordings. 

Warwick Thompson

contents:


Ian Bostridge (Tenor)
Franz-Joseph Selig (Bass)
Sibylla Rubens (Soprano)
Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Werner Güra (Tenor)
Dietrich Henschel (Tenor)


Collegium Vocale Ghent
dir. Philippe Herreweghe


Boy choristers from the
Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino