Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Eugen Jochum, Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks :: Bach: Mass in B minor

Even more solid

kelsie | Plainview, Texas United States | 04/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jochum's first recording of the Mass in B minor (Bach: Mass in B minor/Mass in F) was as solid a reading as one is likely to find: not outstanding, but not awful.



In this, the third of his three recordings, Jochum's performance is much improved in many ways. The forces he uses are again rather large for the prevailing trends in Bach scholarship (but who cares for all of that?), and the soloists sing in an unabashedly Romantic manner (LOTS of vibrato here). Nonetheless, this recording offers the Mass what will seem to many an appropriately grand treatment, worthy of Bach's crowning masterpiece.



The orchestral playing is even throughout (the horn player for the Gloria's "Quoniam" sounds much more confident in this reading than Jochum's earlier), and the chorus sings with respectable clarity given its large size (for example, the opening bars of the "Confiteor unam baptisma" or the "Osanna in excelsis."



The balance between chorus, orchestra, and soloists is also very good in this reading (although again that pesky soprano part has a tendency to overwhelm the tenor soloist in the "Domine Deus"!).



Perhaps the most attractive thing about this set is its affordability: this is a great entry-level performance, especially if you're meeting the Mass (or Bach, or classical music in general) for the very first time, and the price is definitely nice.



Again, Jochum's probably isn't the very finest recording ever made of the Mass in B minor, but he is a strong, solid all-around offering. For first-timers or people who "just want ONE" recording of Bach's greatest work, this one is a great choice at a nice price."

Jochum's wand

Musicus | Oslo, Norway | 09/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a reissue. More reviews on this performance you'll get on Amazon-search: B000002SCY, the same performance but a former issue out of print. Suffice it to say that Jochum's forces sound somehow too grand and the soloists are a mixed experience - all this unlike his currently out-of-print Christmas Oratorio from 1973, perfection on all levels - but here you will find a B-minor Mass with all the overall dignity and solemnity you expect from this underestimated conductor. Sometimes I prefer the Herreweghe - Amazon-search B000005Z2W - for its clear counterpoint and sober beauty, but I think Jochum's pacing & phrasing is the most dignified. What a wand that man used on his Bach! What a pity that his complete Christmas Oratorio is out of print!



P.S. August 2006: Yes, I did need both Jochum and Herreweghe, because I had not found Rilling's b-minor mass yet. That one leaves no wishes open and gets the final fifth star, Amazon search: B00004S584."