Search - Bach, Peter Schreier, Adam :: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Best all-around recording

03/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rare combination of power, precision, and sensitivity. One shining example is the duet "So ist mein Jesu nun empfangen" where Stolte and Burmeister do a delicate yet powerful dance. Schreier does well with the evangelist (what else is new). Communicates the faith aspect very well, especially "Wahrlich dies ist Gottes Sohn gewesen". If you key on one particular aspect (eg authenticity), you can find somebody who brings that out more prominently (Klemperer does the "Sind Blitze Sind Donner" chorus with more power). However, you would be hard pressed to find any one recording that is so well-rounded, both as an expression of music and of faith."

Bach and the Thomanerchor zu Leipzig--Der Matthaeuspassion

David G. Lebut Jr. | Gilbert, AZ USA | 06/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By far, this is the best recording of this work. Only the recordings by Karl Richter and the 2nd recording by van Karajan come close to it.



In addition, this recording features the ensemble which first performed the work (in 1727, 1729, 1736, and 1742)--the Thomanerchor zu Leipzig.



Although they also made another, earlier recording of the work (under Mauersberger's predecessor, Guenther Ramin), this recording far surpasses it, both in the fact that there are no abridgements, and also in overall performance quality."