St. Matthew's Passion
Posted by: EJS on 25 March 2012
With Easter coming up, I'd be interested if members have favorite recordings of Bach's St-Matthew's and St-John's Passions. (And if so, which 
)
My own preferences tend to fluctuate over time - the below reflects my current disposition on the St-Matthew's Passion.
My first encounter was the old Herreweghe I, a fleet, melodic performance which convinces through sheer beauty of playing, singing and particularly the choral work. The overall approach is still the one I like best, but it's no longer my favorite as I find the counter tenor, René Jacobs, rather grating on repeated listening. Herreweghe had the opportunity to re-record the work some fifteen years later, with a great cast, on paper: Ian Bostridge, Sibylla Rubens, Andreas Scholl. However neither Herreweghe nor the soloists sound particularly inspired and the whole performance sounds flat due to lack of excitement - not an improvement on the older one.
In 1997, Jos van Veldhoven and the Dutch Bach Society recorded the work for Channel Classics, live but under studio conditions. Another melodic, musical approach, but delivered more directly by a great lineup - Andreas Scholl on much better form here than for Herreweghe and really touching in 'Erbarme dich'. While the differences between Veldhoven I and Herreweghe II are occasionally big but often subtle, Veldhoven manages to keep the energy going much more consistently.
Veldhoven also re-recorded the work, in 2010 in Naarden, again live. His basic approach hasn't changed although he employs a broader range of tempi and dynamic range, all for the better. For this performance, he increased the size of Coro I with eight ripienists while decreasing Coro II to just the four soloists, the theory for which is explained in the booklet. Listening to the stereo layer, I didn't notice the resulting effect that much. Despite a group of soloists that doesn't quite meet the standards of Veldhoven I and Herreweghe I, it's a trailblazer of a performance and on balance my current favorite.
Also in the late 90s, Paul McCreesh recorded a rather peculiar version in the One-Voice-Per-Part (OVPP) tradition, with a very small orchestra, eight soloists who also do the chorus work. It is not a small scale performance, however. His soloists are top notch, tempi are generally very high, and he employs a huge organ. I think it's great, but for some reason, comes across as if McCreesh doesn't truly believe in the OVPP concept. Overall, the performance is not as moving as the above mentioned but a good runner up and the most fiery of all recorded versions - a great introduction to those who have heard Karajan or Klemperer and want to give the work one last chance.
I try to add a new performance to the list every year. I haven't mentioned Harnoncourt, Marriner (live recording) and Klemperer, which I have heard but don't like very much. Worst on my list so far is Karajan, who obviously wanted the world to stop spinning during the sixteen hours this work subjectively lasts. Two recordings I haven't yet heard but really want to, are the recent Koopman and the all-male Leonhardt. I have heard good things about Gardiner, and may go for it one day.
On the St-John's Passion, I can be brief: the recent OVPP performance of the Ricercar Consort sweeps the field. Very lively and dramatic, fitting with the music.
Cheers,
EJ
Only LP sets here...
Michel Corboz version (on 3 x LP) Recordings from 1977
Also have this pair of bobby-dazzlers...
Telemann / Kurt Redel (Philips 2 x LP box-sets)
Playing the (Telemann) Matthäus-Passion - everything nice and sincere going on with orchestration and individual instrumentation.
The singing is excellent too imho, but when the choir joins in it sounds too large and the recording is overcooked with poor church acoustics.
These LP pressings are near-mint, ...not something people like to play too often i guess : )
Debs
Waiting in my office inbox this morning, and currently in the player. Wow, just hearing Anne Sofie von Otter and Anthony Rolfe Johnson again in music that suits them to a tee, and her voice in her absolute prime, is a delight. The full size Monteverdi Choir's opening chorus is also marvelously done, so first impressions are definitively positive.
Cheers,
EJ
Currently listening to this version (a JWM recommendation IIRC) -
Yes, funnily enough I have been listening to this this week too 
Currently: Veldhoven's first.
Cheers,
EJ
Cheers,
EJ
This year I'm listening to the Passions that have been on my shelf for years and were ignored a little while I was busy adding many others through the years. It may have been 10 years or more since I listened to this one.
Waiting in my office inbox this morning, and currently in the player. Wow, just hearing Anne Sofie von Otter and Anthony Rolfe Johnson again in music that suits them to a tee, and her voice in her absolute prime, is a delight. The full size Monteverdi Choir's opening chorus is also marvelously done, so first impressions are definitively positive.
Cheers,
EJ
I have this version and it is wonderful.
It's part of a 9-CD box set that also includes The Christmas Oratorio, the Mass in B Minor and the St John Passion - all excellent. Will give the SMP a spin on Sunday morning...
LP box set of the Schreier is the one I have. Haven't played this for ages, so a good and timely reminder from everyone.
Thanks!
David