Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

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this new recording's credentials border on the unassailable...Layton's pacing is compelling - there's no mistaking the gambling fever as the soldiers cast lots for Christ's garment...[Neal Davies]... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2013, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 25th Feb 2013
Catalogue No: CDA67901-2
Label: Hyperion
Length: 1 hour 57 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

18th February 2013
Gramophone Magazine

May 2013

Editor's Choice
Presto Favourites

Recommended Recording

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

Work length1:57:49

$47.30

$64.50

$88.15

Ian Bostridge (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Iestyn Davies (counter-tenor), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Amy Wood (soprano), Ashley Riches (bass), David de Winter (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Polyphony
Stephen Layton

Part 1 No 01. Chorus. Herr, unser Herrscher

Track length9:04

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Part 1 No 02. Recitative. Jesus ging mit seinen Jüngern (Evangelista / Christus)

Track length2:23

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Part 1 No 03. Chorale. O große Lieb

Track length0:46

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Part 1 No 04. Recitative. Auf dass das Wort (Evangelista / Christus)

Track length1:03

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Part 1 No 05. Chorale. Dein Will gescheh, Herr Gott

Track length0:47

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Part 1 No 06. Recitative. Die Schar aber (Evangelista)

Track length0:44

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Part 1 No 07. Aria. Von den Stricken meiner Sünden

Track length4:54

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Part 1 No 08. Recitative. Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesu nach (Evangelista)

Track length0:10

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Part 1 No 09. Aria. Ich folge dir gleichfalls

Track length3:24

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Part 1 No 10. Recitative. Derselbige Jünger (Evangelista / Ancilla / Petrus / Christus / Servus)

Track length3:11

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Part 1 No 11. Chorale. Wer hat dich so geschlagen

Track length1:39

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Part 1 No 12. Recitative. Und Hannas sandte ihn gebunden (Evangelista / Servus / Petrus)

Track length2:02

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Part 1 No 13. Aria. Ach, mein Sinn

Track length2:29

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Part 1 No 14. Chorale. Petrus, der nicht denkt zurück

Track length1:10

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Part 2 No 15. Chorale. Christus, der uns selig macht

Track length1:01

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Part 2 No 16. Recitative. Da führeten sie Jesum (Evangelista / Pilatus / Christus)

Track length4:04

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Part 2 No 17. Chorale. Ach großer König

Track length1:36

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Part 2 No 18. Recitative. Da sprach Pilatus zu ihm (Evangelista / Pilatus / Christus)

Track length2:00

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Part 2 No 19. Arioso. Betrachte, meine Seel

Track length2:31

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Part 2 No 20. Aria. Erwäge, wie sein blutgefärbter Rücken

Track length8:37

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Part 2 No 21. Recitative. Und die Kriegsknechte flochten (Evangelista / Pilatus / Christus)

Track length5:38

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Part 2 No 22. Chorale. Durch dein Gefängnis, Gottes Sohn

Track length0:43

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Part 2 No 23. Recitative. Die Jüden aber schrieen (Evangelista / Pilatus)

Track length3:58

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Part 2 No 24. Aria with chorus. Eilt, ihr angefochtnen Seelen

Track length3:41

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Part 2 No 25. Recitative. Allda kreuzigten sie ihn (Evangelista / Pilatus)

Track length2:18

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Part 2 No 26. Chorale. In meines Herzens Grunde

Track length1:02

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Part 2 No 27. Recitative. Die Kriegsknechte aber (Evangelista / Christus)

Track length4:02

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Part 2 No 28. Chorale. Er nahm alles wohl in acht

Track length1:03

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Part 2 No 29. Recitative. Und von Stund an nahm sie der Jünger (Evangelista / Christus)

Track length1:21

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Part 2 No 30. Aria. Es ist vollbracht!

Track length5:41

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Part 2 No 31. Recitative. Und neiget das Haupt und verschied (Evangelista)

Track length0:30

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Part 2 No 32. Aria and Chorale. Mein teurer Heiland, lass dich fragen

Track length4:30

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Part 2 No 33. Recitative. Und siehe da (Evangelista)

Track length0:30

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Part 2 No 34. Arioso. Mein Herz, in dem die ganze Welt

Track length0:47

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Part 2 No 35. Aria. Zerfließe, mein Herze

Track length7:22

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Part 2 No 36. Recitative. Die Jüden aber (Evangelista)

Track length2:14

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Part 2 No 37. Chorale. O hilf, Christe, Gottes Sohn

Track length1:02

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Part 2 No 38. Recitative. Darnach bat Pilatum Joseph von Arimathia (Evangelista)

Track length2:22

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Part 2 No 39. Chorus. Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine

Track length8:02

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Part 2 No 40. Chorale. Ach Herr, lass dein lieb Engelein

Track length2:19

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Part 1 No 11. Chorale (fully accompanied version). Wer hat dich so geschlagen

Track length1:35

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Part 2 No 17. Chorale (fully accompanied version). Ach großer König

Track length1:34

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Part 2 No 40. Chorale (fully accompanied version). Ach Herr, lass dein lieb Engelein

Track length2:00

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Favourites, JS Bach Choral & Vocal Works

This week it's David's turn to attempt the impossible - whittling down the huge and distinguished choral discography of JS Bach and picking out the very best.

Recording of the Week, JS Bach: St John Passion from Polyphony and Layton

18th February 2013

The crowd-scenes crackle with terrifying energy and Ian Bostridge’s volatile Evangelist brings great narrative momentum, whilst Iestyn Davies and Richard Tunnicliffe’s eloquence in ‘Es ist vollbracht’ is worth the price of the set alone.

‘Layton has directed this annual St John Passion for several seasons now. His readings, which are becoming ever more dramatic and daring, have a raw intensity. It was easy to see why these concerts have become one of the highlights in London’s musical calendar’ (The Guardian)

Polyphony and Stephen Layton present their celebrated performance of Bach’s most dramatic masterpiece. Accompanied by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and a starry team of soloists, Layton directs a vivid account, the excitement of the narrative drama contrasting with heartbreaking moments of reflection.

In Ian Bostridge, we have the most iconic Evangelist of the last twenty years; an artist who is an incomparable communicator, a singer of technical brilliance, and an impassioned, experienced interpreter of Bach’s music.

Reviews

April 2013

this new recording's credentials border on the unassailable...Layton's pacing is compelling - there's no mistaking the gambling fever as the soldiers cast lots for Christ's garment...[Neal Davies] reserves a melting tenderness for the utterances from the cross. It's crowned by Iestyn Davies's sublime account of 'Es ist vollbracht'...Both Carolyn Sampson's arias are priceless.

9th March 2013

the choral singing is wonderfully pure, buoyant and transparent...Ian Bostridge’s Evangelist, mannered and occasionally stretched but full of “narrative” character, dominates Layton’s performance

May 2013

about as state-of-the-art a Bach Passion recording as you'll hear...Take as read the urgency, clarity, balance and delamatory unanimity of the chorus...Layton's reality is about cultivating the focus of each sentiment with supreme corporate executancy...Bostridge is the master story-teller who surveys all about him.

February 2013

[Bostridge is] a magnificent Evangelist though one aspect of his approach may not be to all tastes. He is highly expressive at all times and there are several occasions where some may feel he overdoes the expressiveness..Polyphony show vividly just what can be achieved in Bach singing by a fairly small professional choir, especially in terms of such things as flexibility, attack and agility...This desirable new recording deserves a place in the front rank.

18th February 2013

it’s remarkable simply because it’s practically perfect in every way...though [Bostridge has] been singing the Passions for over a decade he still sounds as if he’s telling this familiar story for the first time...The soloists, too, are all perfectly cast...But it’s Iestyn Davies who really takes the laurels.

3rd March 2013

Layton has honed his preferred version, but only aficionados will notice or mind. Concentrate instead on the purity of sound, the emotionally expressive yet restrained performance by all and the impeccable attention to text of the soloists. Ian Bostridge (Evangelist) lives every word of the narration but never over dramatises. Countertenor Iestyn Davies's almost disembodied account of Es ist vollbracht! (It is finished!) is unforgettable.

22nd March 2013

this St John Passion brings to the fore the traits of style and taste that are distinguished hallmarks of Layton and the forces he gathers around him...Bostridge is the tenor Evangelist, eloquent, pure of tone, fluent and strong in communicating the import of the German narrative...The choir sings with a well-rounded sound, firm accents and with diction that brings the text crisply to life

15th March 2013

when Bach’s goal is mellifluous comfort, as in the final chorus, Ruht wohl, Polyphony wins hands down.

Early Music Today

Stephen Layton directs this intense, dramatic reading with intelligence and integrity, ably assisted by an excellent team of soloists...Layton’s small choir, Polyphony, responds alertly to the changing dramatic demands...The OAE plays with style and authority, and Hyperion’s recording is spacious, full, clear and detailed.

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Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245

2 CDs

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Contents

Favourites, JS Bach Choral & Vocal Works

Recording of the Week, JS Bach: St John Passion from Polyphony and Layton

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