To all J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion lovers

Reto,

please tell us more about the Harnoncourt.

I'm still looking for an Matthew Passion that meets my expectations but I'm sure it's one of those works that can never have an ideal performance. I have four recordings, likely to become five soon as the recent Parrott 'one-to-a-part' rendition sounded very intriguing when it was reviewed on (BBC) Radio 3 this weekend. Has anyone out there heard this in it's entirety?

Both the Gardiner and the more recent Herreweghe are fine performances. The latter has some great soloists, the former also has these plus the superb Monteverdi choir. However, neither quite storm the heavens for me. I can't put a finger on it but both leave me feeling the music has quite a lot more to offer. I also have the Richter, but sadly find it practically unlistenable. Many people feel this is the definitive version, but having been brought up post-"authentic" Bach, it seems a real period piece and definitely not on period instruments.

My other recording is an obscure Japanese edition that I cannot be remotely objective about as my wife sings on it!

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com

I don't have the quite the same depth of experience as some of the above, with only 3 recordings, but the Harnoncourt has a real feeling of an event which gives it my top recommendation. Intrigued by this new Parrott recording though - hopefully it will be as good as his Mass in B minor.

While I cannot offer a comparative analysis like RdS or the others, I must say that I enjoy both versions I have heard, and those are the classic Klemperer recording on EMI and the more recent Harnoncourt on Teldec. Of the two, I prefer the Harnoncourt. I find it more compelling, and the modern sound adds to the impact, particularly during the portions where both choruses sing. I may consider the Herreweghe version.

Good Morning,

Does anybody know the label of Parrot's recording? Has it already been released?

Reto

You're all too polite to have pointed out my mistake. The 'one-to-a part' Passion is conducted by Paul McReesh with the Gabrieli Consort on Archiv. Andrew Parrott has evangelised for this style of performance and conducted it live in this fashion but has not yet recorded it to my knowledge. There is an concert review of McReesh here: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Articles/SMP-Golomb.htm

I was going to buy the McCreesh but ended up with the Maasaki Suzuki version instead (don't ask). Obviously I haven't had time live with this but first impressions are very promising. Suzuki takes things a little slower with a little less drama than Gardiner. There is more of a sense of meditation in the interpretation. A more distant (and very good) recording helps this.

This site has some interesting things to say about the differences between these and other versions: http://homepages.kdsi.net/~sherman/StMatthew.htm

I will certainly get the McReesh at some stage soon and then there's the Harnoncourt and perhaps the Ton Koopman...

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com

[This message was edited by djc on MONDAY 28 April 2003 at 13:27.]

Oops, Varguas.