Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Bach Collegium Japan has outdone itself: this St. John Passion is among the very best recordings in a crowded field--and not just because it includes three rarely performed items from Bach's intermediate versions of the work. As the Evangelist, Gerd Türk doesn't ladle rich, creamy vocalism over Bach's recitative; rather, using a low, natural-sounding volume as his base level, he uses subtle (and occasionally sudden) shifts of volume and tempo to recount the narrative like a genuine storyteller. At times Türk's delivery approaches "speech-song", yet in the famously dramatic moments in which the Evangelist gets real melody--such as "und weinete bitterlich" ("[Peter] wept bitterly")--he gives us full-throated, lyrical singing. Bass Chiyuki Urano is a creditable (if slightly stolid) Jesus; the four soloists who sing the arias are marvelous--their pure, youthful tone and grown-up artistry make for the best renditions of these solos that this listener has heard. Masaaki Suzuki and the BCJ bring a sense of sincere contemplation to the performance (as opposed to the more energetic approach of Gardiner) without short-changing the work's genuine drama--whatever their religious persuasions may be, these musicians play and sing the St. John Passion as if they really believe. --Matthew Westphal

Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al, Music, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Masaaki Suzuki, Yoshikazu Mera, Japan Bach Collegium, Ingrid Schmithusen, Yoshie Hida, Gerd Turk, Makoto Sakurada, Masaaki Suzuki, Ingrid Schmithusen, Yoshikazu Mera, Gerd Turk, Makoto Sakurada, Yoshie Hida, Chiyuki Urano, Peter Kooij, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Passion
Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Bach by Suzuki is Sublime
  • Excellent
  • This is it
  • This is def one of the best
  • Absolutely wonderful!!
 Bach: St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, et al
Masaaki Suzuki , Ingrid Schmithusen , Yoshikazu Mera , Gerd Turk , Makoto Sakurada , Yoshie Hida , Chiyuki Urano , and Peter Kooij
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
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
PassionsPassions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000IMR7
Release Date: 1999-04-01

Tracks:

  1. Part I - Chor. Herr, Unser Herrscher, Dessen Ruhm
  2. Part I - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus)
  3. Part I - Choral. O Gro Lieb', O Lieb' Ohn'Alle Ma
  4. Part I - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus). Auf DaDas Wort ErfW
  5. Part I - Choral. Dein Will' Gescheh', Herr Gott, Zugleich
  6. Part I - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Die Schar Aber Und Der Oberhauptmann
  7. Part I - Arie (Alt). Von Den Stricken Meiner S
  8. Part I - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Simon Petrus Aber Folgete Jesum Nach
  9. Part I - Arie (Sopran). Ich Folge Dir Gleichfalls Mit Freudigen Schritten
  10. Part I - Rezitative (Evangelist, Magd, Petrus, Jesus, Diener). Derselbige JWar Dem Hohenpriester Bekannt
  11. Part I - Choral. Wer Hat Dich So Geschlagen
  12. Part I - Rezitative (Evangelist) - Chor - Rezitative (Evangelist, Petrus, Diener)
  13. Part I - Arie. Ach, Mein Sinn
  14. Part I - Choral. Petrus, Der Nicht Denkt Zur
  15. Part II - Choral. Christus, Der Uns Selig Macht
  16. Part II - Rezitative (Evangelist, Pilatus) - Chor - Rezitative (Evangelist, Pilatus) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist...)
  17. Part II - Choral. Ach, Gror K, GroZu Allen Zeiten
  18. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Pilatus, Jesus) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist)
  19. Part II - Arioso (Ba. Betrachte, Meine Seel', Mit Angstlichem Vergn
  20. Part II - Arie (Tenor). Mein Jesu, Ach! Dein Schmerzhaft Bitter Leiden
  21. Part II - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ
  22. Part II - Choral. Durch Dein Gefnis, Gottes Sohn
  23. Johannespassion, BWV 245: Part II - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ - Chor - Rezitativ
  24. Part II - Arie (Ba Mit Chor. Eilt, Ihr Angefocht'nen Seelen

Tracks:

  1. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Pilatus)
  2. Part II - Choral. In Meines Herzens Grunde
  3. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist) - Chor - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus)
  4. Part II - Choral. Er Nahm Alles Wohl In Acht
  5. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist, Jesus). Und Von Stund' An Nahm Sie Der J
  6. Part II - Arie (Alt). Es Ist Vollbracht!
  7. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Und Neiget Das Haupt Und Verschied
  8. Part II - Arie (Ba Mit Chor. Mein Teuer Heiland, LaDich Fragen
  9. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Und Siehe Da, Der Vorhang Im Tempel Zerri
  10. Part II - Arioso (Tenor). Mein Herz! In Dem Die Ganze Welt
  11. Part II - Arie (Sopran). Zerflie, Mein Herze, In Fluten Den Zen
  12. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Die Juden Aber, Dieweil Es Der R War
  13. Part II - Choral. O hilf, Christe, Gottes Sohn
  14. Part II - Rezitativ (Evangelist). Darnach Bat Pilatum Joseph Von Arimathia
  15. Part II - Chor. Ruht Wohl, Ihr Heiligen Gebeine
  16. Part II - Choral. Ach, Herr, LaDein' Lieb' Engelein
  17. Appendix (Version II) - Arie (Ba Sopran). Himmel, Rei, Welt, Erbebe - BWV245a
  18. Appendix (Version II) - Arie (Tenor). Zerschmettert Mich, Ihr Felsen Und Ihr H BWV245B
  19. Appendix (Version II) - Arie (Tenor). Ach Windet Euch Nicht So, Geplagte Seelen - BWV245C

Amazon.com

The Bach Collegium Japan has outdone itself: this St. John Passion is among the very best recordings in a crowded field--and not just because it includes three rarely performed items from Bach's intermediate versions of the work. As the Evangelist, Gerd Türk doesn't ladle rich, creamy vocalism over Bach's recitative; rather, using a low, natural-sounding volume as his base level, he uses subtle (and occasionally sudden) shifts of volume and tempo to recount the narrative like a genuine storyteller. At times Türk's delivery approaches "speech-song", yet in the famously dramatic moments in which the Evangelist gets real melody--such as "und weinete bitterlich" ("[Peter] wept bitterly")--he gives us full-throated, lyrical singing. Bass Chiyuki Urano is a creditable (if slightly stolid) Jesus; the four soloists who sing the arias are marvelous--their pure, youthful tone and grown-up artistry make for the best renditions of these solos that this listener has heard. Masaaki Suzuki and the BCJ bring a sense of sincere contemplation to the performance (as opposed to the more energetic approach of Gardiner) without short-changing the work's genuine drama--whatever their religious persuasions may be, these musicians play and sing the St. John Passion as if they really believe. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Bach by Suzuki is Sublime.......2007-04-07

The internationally acclaimed HIP (Historically Informed Performance) instrumental and choral ensemble Bach Collegium Japan, under music director Masaaki Suzuki, delivers an outstanding performance of the St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach. This superb 1998 BIS recording won a Cannes Classical Award in 2000. In his August 18, 2005 article for the highly respected, high brow, German nationwide weekly newspaper Die Zeit, "The Meistersingers from Tokyo: Conductor Masaaki Suzuki and his Japanese Bach Collegium left audiences speechless in a recent tour of Germany," Die Zeit journalist Wolfram Goertz writes, "Masaaki Suzuki was born in Kobe, in 1954. He is the conductor of the Bach Collegium Japan, a hand-picked group of musicians who since the group's formation in 1990 have dedicated themselves so unswervingly and competently to Bach's music that the western world has been left speechless. The jury of Germany's phonographic award, the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, recently honoured Suzuki's team for the 27th sequel of its recordings all of Bach's cantatas. Now the troop is in Franconia to perform Bach's Mass in B Minor. After the concert the audience looked as if they couldn't quite believe what they'd just heard. Some were clearly asking themselves what on earth had happened to the world and its traditions that their beloved Bach could be delivered with such profundity, virtuosity and sincerity by, God forbid, the Japanese."

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2006-11-10

Great recording by BIS, great performance by Suzuki. Includes arias normally not present in the other editions of the St. Johannes Passion such as "Ach, windet euch nicht so, geplagte Seelen" and "Himmel Reisse, Welte Erbebe" two precious diamonds which beauty would have been sufficient to award Bach as the greatest composer of "at least" his century. Thanks, thanks, thanks, JSB!

5 out of 5 stars This is it.......2003-04-25

The "St John Passion" isn't the equal of the "St Matthew Passion," but let's not quibble. It's still amazing, as is this performance. All hail the Bach Collegium Japan and their Bach work. I also recommend their Cantatas cycle; matchless.

5 out of 5 stars This is def one of the best.......2002-08-15

This is as good as [the] reveiwer mention above so it is a safe choice and should be many peoples first choise too.

For another VERSION (Bach made FOUR versions but only TWO survived complete) I suggest you check out Herreweghes last other version of St John.

By the way there is some nasty things about the Judes in this but the bible is written in that way.

Yes Bach wrote this but followed much of the bible and Bach was probably not an antisemitic person but Martin Luther obviously was that (at least it looks like this). Nothing is found about Bach and a link to some antisemitism so I think you should se this as the biblical story it is but if you be offended by that sort of thing be aware of it but dont let that put you off. If you ARE intrested to understand more about this read the NEW bible book and historical/theological aspects of this matter for futher information (no I am NOT religious but intrested in music and history).

Anyway is this one of the best Bach records ever and it is a lot of Bach records out so I think you understand this is an event and belongs to any distinguished record collection

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful!!.......2002-07-14

I just listened to these CDs for the first time today and they completely blew me away. Everything about them is excellent. The soloists are top notch, the Chorus is very good and the music is wonderful. This St. John's grabs you from the first moment you put it on and holds your attention through the last note on CD 2. When I put on the first CD..it seemed that just a couple minutes had passed and yet the CD had played through and I was reaching for the second CD. It never occured to me that I would listen to both CDs start to finish, moving only to change CDs. I was completely engrossed in the performance.

Although I am a fan of Yoshikazu Mera and he was wonderful as usual, I have to say that Gerd Turk's narration impressed me the most. He is the perfect narrator for St. John's Passion.

One other note of interest is that this performance is based on the rarely heard 1749 performance or 4th version which, in itself, makes it a valuable addition to any Bach collection. The fact that it is beautifully performed and in my opinion the finest recording of St. John's Passion in my experience is just 'gravy'.

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