Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Otto Klemperer, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf :: Bach: St. Matthew Passion

THIS is the one you want

Lorin Kee | Thompson's Station, TN United States | 09/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"St Matthew Passion was the subject of intensive study in my music theory class in college. Why get a 1 CD sampler of this work? This is the ENTIRE work. Furthermore, the singers do a great job with the complexities of this music under the direction of Otto Klemperer. This is a masterpiece not to be missed!"

Bah at his bloated best

Michael Capizzi | Illinois, USA | 05/24/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous reviwer is correct. This is the masterpiece of Bach recordings. Since its release oh so long ago it has remained the standard recording. Even as times and fashions have changed it remains at the top of the heap if only to serve as a reference point for those who chose to move against it. The only recording to chalenge it has been Sir Richard Gardner's period instrument rendition with the English Baroque Specialists and the Montoverdi Choir, the modern masterpiece. Where Gardner is lean, fierce and glorious, this Klemperer recording is just as glorious, with a larger sound, to represent the zenith of mid-twentieth century musical style. This is old-syle Bach, not to be missed. But make no mistake: This is Bach on a large, grand scale --- a style that isn't parrticularly relevant anymore. I grew up on this recording and love it. It belongs in every collection. But so does Gardner.



One negative note: I don't like the high price. For just a little bit moe (maybe $10) one can purchase on Amazon a 22 disc box set of all of the Bach masterworks. As much as I love Klemperer, I'd go here first."