Search - Bach, Munchinger :: Easter Oratorio

Munchinger's Best

Peter G. Watchorn | Cambridge, MA USA | 09/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I reviewed the Easter Oratorio (which was recorded along with Cantata BWV 10 and the Magnificat, BWV 243 at sessions in Ludwigsburg, outside Stuttgart in 1968) as part of a complete boxed set of Bach choral works re-issued by Decca a few years ago. Of all the performances contained therein, this is the pick of the bunch: excellent vocal soloists, great orchestral playing and sure direction from Munchinger (no hint of heaviness here). Try the opening sinfonia to the Easter Oratorio and see if you can resist. Both of these performances were great for their time, and continue to give a great deal of pleasure. Among the vocal soloists, Elly Ameling, Helen Watts and Werner Krenn are outstanding. Tom Krause is good, while Marius Rinzler (BWV 10) is heavy and rather unclear in both diction and pitch (compare with Max van Egmond's performance of the same aria in Leonhardt's recording of BWV 10 and you'll see what I mean). Throughout, Munchinger and the SCO are in unusually good form. As mentioned previously, these performances were great when they were released, and still shine light on Bach's unbelievably great scores. Well worth the small investment needed to acquire them.Highly recommended."

The Finest *Easter Oratorio* Available

Johannes Climacus | Beverly, Massachusetts | 04/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As any church organist employed in a liturgical context knows, Holy Week can be an exhausing ordeal without having to compose new music for services! One is disposed therefore to forgive Bach for recycling a secular cantata for the arias and choruses of his *Easter Oratorio.* The pre-existing music was both charming and festive, and it suits the new text and occasion quite well. A genial work, rather than a profound one.



After an initial spate of recordings during the "Bach Revival" of the 1950's and '60's, the *Easter Oratorio* suffered neglect. There have been relatively few period instrument versions, though a fine one featuring Herreweghe's group came out about a decade ago on Harmonia Mundi.



Munchinger's recording from the 1960's clearly surpasses any of the modern-instrument versions which preceded it, and still dominates the field in many ways. Decca/London spared no effort to make this the definitive recording, and it shows in the the splendid lineup of soloists, superb choral singing and orchestral playing from Munchinger's Stuttgart forces, and vivid recording (though the recent transfer by ArkivCD has dried out the sound a bit). Period performance practice aficionados will not find much to complain of here: Münchinger favors brisk tempos, cleanly articulated rhythmic cells, buoyant textures, and properly executed ornamentation. The vocal soloists were leading oratorio singers in their day and knew how to sing Bach idiomatically, if not as lightly as we would expect today. A crisp, resilient rendition of the opening sinfonia gives way to a tender but not sentimentalized oboe solo in the Adagio which follows. The Duet/Chorus, "Kommt eilet und laufet" conveys just the right sort of joyful abandon. Elly Ameling and the solo violinist are breathtakingly virtuosic in "Seele, deine Spezereien," and for once the listener doesn't register the inordinate length of an aria which can be excruciatingly boring in some renditions. Werner Krenn is pleasingly mellifluous in "Sanfte soll mein Todeskummer," and Helen Watts as trenchant as one could wish in "Saget, nur geschwinde." The final chorus rocks, as they say.



Altogether an oustandingly successful *Easter Oratorio.* This might be enough, but this CD also includes a very generous bonus in Cantata BWV 10 (or the "German Magnificat" as it is sometimes called). The performance, also featuring Münchinger's ensemble, is nearly as fine as the Oratorio. Ameling has one or two moments of shaky intonation in her demanding aria, and Marius Rintzler is not quite up to the fearsome roulades of "Gewaltige, stösst Gott." Otherwise this is a tremendously enjoyable performance, and a welcome coupling for the Oratorio.



Enthusiastically recommended and kudos to ArkivCD for reissuing it."

Excellent!

Ismael Pini | Sào Paulo, Brazil | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best recording for Bach's Easter Oratorio I have ever heard. Soloists/choir/orquestra are perfect! I had this recording as an old LP and now finally found it as a CD at amazon. Have been enjoying it every morning before leaving home."