Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

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When you hear the ominous first chorus of Bach's St John Passion sung and played like this, liturgical ritual and visceral human drama make for an unusually intense experience. The bass line... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 9th Apr 2003
Catalogue No: 8557296-97
Label: Naxos
Length: 1 hour 49 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

June 2003

Editor's Choice

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

Work length1:49:57

$44.00

$57.20

James Gilchrist (tenor), John Bernays (bass), Eamonn Dougan (bass), Joe Littlewood (soprano), James Bowman (countertenor), Matthew Beale (tenor), Colin Baldy (bass)
Choir of New College Oxford, Collegium Novum
Edward Higginbottom
Recorded: 6-14 July 2001
Recording Venue: Chapel of new College Oxford

Herr, unser Herrscher

Track length9:21

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Jesus ging mit seinen Jungern

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O gross Lieb, o Lieb ohn alle Masse

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Auf dass das Wort erfullet wurde

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Dein Will gescheh, Herr Gott, zugleich

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Die Schar aber und der Oberhauptmann

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Von den Strikken meiner Sunden

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Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesu nach

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Ich folge dir gleichfalls

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Derselbige Junger war dem Hohenpriester bekannt

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Wer hat dich so geschlagen

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Und Hannas sandte ihn gebunden

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Ach, mein Sinn, wo willt du endlich hin

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Petrus, der nicht denkt zuruck

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Christus, der uns selig macht

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Da fuhreten sie Jesum von Kaipha

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Ach, grosser Konig, gross zu allen Zeiten

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Da sprach Pilatus zu ihm: So bist du dennoch ein Konig?

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Betrachte, meine Seel

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Erwage, wie sein blutgefarbter Rukken

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Und die Kriegsknechte flochten eine Krone

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Durch dein Gefangnis, Gottes Sohn

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Die Jüden aber schrieen und sprachen

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Eilt, ihr angefochtnen Seelen

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Allda kreuzigten sie ihn

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In meines Herzens Grunde

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Die Kriegsknechte aber, da sie Jesum gekreuziget hatten

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Auf dass erfullet wurde die Schrift

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Er nahm alles wohl in acht

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Und von Stund an nahm sie der Junger zu sich

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Es ist vollbracht

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Und neiget das Haupt und verschied

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Mein teurer Heiland, lass dich fragen

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Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriss

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Mein Herz, indem die ganze Welt

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Zerfliesse, mein Herze

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Die Juden aber, dieweil es der Rusttag war

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O hilf, Christe, Gottes Sohn

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Darnach bat Pilatum Joseph von Arimathia

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Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine

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Ach Herr, lass dein lieb Engelein

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Reviews
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Reviews

2010

When you hear the ominous first chorus of Bach's St John Passion sung and played like this, liturgical ritual and visceral human drama make for an unusually intense experience. The bass line pulsates, the boys articulate the words with supreme clarity and the steady speed provides the movement with just the right length – a consideration too often neglected.
Recorded in New College, Oxford, the resident choristers, choral scholars and lay clerks appear to be entirely at ease with the special juxtaposition of quicksilver action and warm reflection which Bach demands in his choruses and chorales.
Edward Higginbottom delivers a palpable sense of narrative, unfussy, as if habit lies at the root of its being. Just listen to the searing choral chromaticisms as Christ is brought before Caiaphas, the startlingly urgent declamations as the crowd bays for blood or the distraught tenderness of James Bowman in 'Es ist vollbracht'.
The Evangelist is the established tenor James Gilchrist, whose alert and straightforward singing makes his performance wholly believable.
Of the current generation of choristers, Joe Littlewood reminds us that English choirboys can sing German music beautifully and convey the emotional essence of the text with maturity and purpose. His 'Ich folge' is a delight.
There's the odd strain in Matthew Beale's testing tenor arias but a pleasing timbre, as indeed there is in John Bernays' proud but unblustering Christus. If there's a general tendency, it's to allow the music to speak in its own time within a relaxed beat. The rest is instinct, experience and letting what will be, be. In such light comes this refreshing and captivating new interpretation.

“Edward Higginbottom is one of those rare musicians who can balance projects of genuine popular appeal with the key masterpieces of the choral repertoire. With this Naxos set of the St John Passion he could potentially reach his largest audience yet… especially with the glorious singing of the now world- renowned Choir of New College, Oxford.

2010

an outstanding period performance which can stand comparison with any in the catalogue...The choir itself is fresh and bright, singing incisively, with the crowd choruses vividly adding to the drama...Gilchrist is a superb Evangelist, fluent and expressive, and the main quartet of soloists makes a sensitive team.

Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

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