Bach St. John Passion, BWV245
Suzuki’s St John Passion is an outstanding event brilliantly captured live on DVD
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach
Genre:
DVD
Label: TDK
Magazine Review Date: 12/2001
Media Format: Digital Versatile Disc
Media Runtime: 120
Mastering:
Stereo
Catalogue Number: DV-BAJPN
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
St John Passion |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Bach Collegium Japan Chiyuki Urano, Bass-baritone Gerd Türk, Tenor Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Masaaki Suzuki, Conductor Midori Suzuki, Soprano Robin Blaze, Alto Stephan MacLoed, Bass |
Author:
With his outstanding series of choral recordings for BIS‚ Masaaki Suzuki has rightly established a high reputation for stylish interpretations of Bach. As he explains in a brief interview which comes as a supplement on this DVD‚ he had intensive training in period performance in Holland. Certainly‚ his vigour and sensitivity in Bach defies any idea that Japanese culture has in any way been a barrier in authentically interpreting Bach.
Suzuki recorded the St John Passion for BIS back in 1998 (4/99). This video version marks a special event‚ a performance recorded on the very anniversary – July 28‚ 2000 – of Bach’s birth 250 years earlier. In essence the interpretation remains the same‚ with fresh‚ light textures and generally brisk speeds which yet allow for depth of feeling‚ and the sense of occasion is irresistible.
It is instructive‚ too‚ actually to see the physical layout of the performance. Only Gerd Türk as the Evangelist is presented as a soloist in front of the choir. His is an achingly beautiful performance‚ with his profound involvement all the more evident when seen as well as heard. Türk also sings the tenor arias‚ and the other soloists also have double roles‚ singing in the 16strong choir before stepping forward when needed as soloists: Stephen MacLeod singing Christus as well as the bass arias‚ Chiyuki Urano singing Pilate and other incidental solos‚ Robin Blaze a superb alto soloist and the ravishing Midori Suzuki in the two soprano arias. Masaaki Suzuki as director alternates between playing on one of the two harpsichords and conducting.
Including seven minutes of applause at the end is perhaps excessive‚ but on DVD one can easily tailor it to one’s needs. Firstrate sound too‚ coproduced by NHK Radio and EuroArts. The leaflet offers minimal information and no text‚ though on DVD one can plumb into subtitles‚ either the original German or the English translation‚ but not both together.
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