Bach: Cantatas Vol. 1 /Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

Editorial Reviews
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Masaaki Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan didn't begin their series of complete Bach cantatas with the proverbial bang. The three cantatas on this Volume 1 are rather subdued; two of them are downright solemn: No. 150, Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, which concerns the suffering of this world and the wait for salvation in the next, and the famous cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, which rings inventive variations on the titular chorale melody. The remaining cantata, No. 196, Der Herr denket an uns, evidently was intended for a wedding, which it celebrates with a calm, glowing reverence. All three cantatas are from early in Bach's career; there are no recitatives at all, and the distinction between choruses and arias is not as clear-cut as in the later cantatas. The performances aren't quite as immaculate as those on the BCJ's later discs (the choir in particular has a few minor lapses of tuning), but the beautiful sound and graceful musicality so evident in the later work are present here, too--making this CD worthwhile at this bargain price. Several lovely excerpts from the later discs in the series are included at the end of the record as teasers--making this title the proverbial "loss leader." --Matthew Westphal

Bach: Cantatas Vol. 1 /Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, Music, Peter Kooy, Johann Sebastian Bach, Masaaki Suzuki, Akira Tachikawa, Yumiko Kurisu, Koki Katano, Bach Collegium Japan, Cantata, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Vocals
Cantatas Vol. 34 (BWV 1, 126, 127) [Hybrid SACD] / Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki
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    		Cantatas Vol. 34 (BWV 1, 126, 127) [Hybrid SACD] / Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki
    Bach , Blaze , Turk , and Kooij
    Manufacturer: Bis
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Bach: Cantatas, Vol 26 (BWV 180, 122, 96) /Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki
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      		Bach: Cantatas, Vol 26 (BWV 180, 122, 96) /Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki

      Manufacturer: BIS
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      Bach: Cantatas, Vol 1 (BWV 4, 150, 196) /Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Stunningly beautiful beginning
      • And away we go!
      		 Bach: Cantatas, Vol 1 (BWV 4, 150, 196) /Bach Collegium Japan * Suzuki
      Peter Kooij , Johann Sebastian Bach , Masaaki Suzuki , Akira Tachikawa , Yumiko Kurisu , Koki Katano , and Bach Collegium Japan
      Manufacturer: Bis
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Bach Collegium JapanBach Collegium Japan | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      CantatasCantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      CantatasCantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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      Amazon.com

      Masaaki Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan didn't begin their series of complete Bach cantatas with the proverbial bang. The three cantatas on this Volume 1 are rather subdued; two of them are downright solemn: No. 150, Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, which concerns the suffering of this world and the wait for salvation in the next, and the famous cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, which rings inventive variations on the titular chorale melody. The remaining cantata, No. 196, Der Herr denket an uns, evidently was intended for a wedding, which it celebrates with a calm, glowing reverence. All three cantatas are from early in Bach's career; there are no recitatives at all, and the distinction between choruses and arias is not as clear-cut as in the later cantatas. The performances aren't quite as immaculate as those on the BCJ's later discs (the choir in particular has a few minor lapses of tuning), but the beautiful sound and graceful musicality so evident in the later work are present here, too--making this CD worthwhile at this bargain price. Several lovely excerpts from the later discs in the series are included at the end of the record as teasers--making this title the proverbial "loss leader." --Matthew Westphal

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Stunningly beautiful beginning.......2002-07-26

      This CD is a stunningly beautiful beginning to what promises to be a very special traversal of the complete Bach cantata repertoire. Bach is the most spiritual of the best-known composers, and, together with the masses and motets, the cantatas are Bach's most spiritual pieces. Suzuki has assembled an awesome cast of performers. The soloists on this CD are more than adequate, and the male solos are sung with exceptional beauty. These three cantatas barely scratch the surface of the repertoire, but they present Suzuki with the opportunity to showcase the capabilities of his team. His interpretations properly capture the solemnity of BWV#4, an early Bach piece on the theme "Christ lag in Todesbanden". Suzuki is careful to let the complexity and beauty of the music overwhelm us, and not present an overinflated sound. If I could put two words to the effect, I would call the sound "lean" but "vibrant". Suzuki is to Bach cantatas what champagne is to wine. I have enjoyed the Koopman set so far also, but I prefer the spirituality that Suzuki brings to this music. This first volume is really extraordinary.

      5 out of 5 stars And away we go!.......2001-11-01

      Volume 1, folks--yes, I plan to buy every single volume. I'm new to Bach's cantatas. I kept putting it off; but in that time, I was researching different performances, sampling this and that. I was tipped off to Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan. They rec'd glowing reviews from almost everybody. Sure, an aria is sometimes done better elsewhere. But you know what? I place this series at the very top of the Bach cantatas recordings. The quality is consistently high (judging from the 7 CDs I own which I've listened to over and over. This music is infectious! where have I been all this time!). Under Suzuki's enlightened leadership, they sound like...well, like Bach. (Know what I mean?) Oh sure, sometimes the soprano gets on my nerves a little (BWV 21) (I prefer the Alternate Movements anyway), but that's what, two tracks out of 25? So, if you just want a few CDs of this great Bach music, or if you want to collect the entire set (and it's going to take a while, as they release a volume every couple of months), I heartily recommend Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan. More power to them.

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