Album

Sigiswald Kuijken has solved the eternal interpretive problem posed by recording Bach's sacred cantatas: how do you keep the performances interesting when the subject matter is so religiously focused? Kuijken's answer: focus on the music. In his cantata series with La Petite Bande, Kuijken's interpretations are not at all inexpressive—the vocal soloists are expert at bringing out the emotional meaning of the texts—but like the instrumental soloists, they are more intent on the musical meaning of the melodies. In this seventh volume of the series of cantatas for the complete liturgical year, Kuijken and his forces take on O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20; Ach Gott, vom Himmel sich darein, BWV 2; and Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10, and their performances are consistently musical. As always, the vocal soloists also function as a one-to-a-part choir thereby gracing the choral settings with almost unprecedented clarity. And always the vocal soloists are superb, with impeccable intonation and pronunciation, as well as a keen feeling for blend and balance in the chorales. The instrumentalists are likewise excellent. The soloists, especially soprano trombonist Jean-François Madeuf, are clearly virtuosos, and the seven string players with Kuijken directing from the first violin desk are equally adept in the chamber music textures. Though not perhaps for those who seek religious revelation from Bach's sacred cantatas, Kuijken's recordings are nevertheless highly enjoyable. Accent's digital sound is clear and colorful, but very evocative.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.20: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (1st Sunday after Trinity), BWV20 Work 26:19 Jan Van der Crabben Bass, La Petite Bande Orchestra, Petra Noskaiova Alto, Christoph Genz Tenor, Sigiswald Kuijken Conductor
1	1.Chorus: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort	4:08			$0.99
2	2.Recitative (Tenor): Kein Unglück ist in aller Welt zu finden	0:54			$0.99
3	3.Aria (Tenor): Ewigkeit, du machst mir bange	3:26			$0.99
4	4.Recitative (Bass): Gesetzt, es dau'rte der Verdammten Qual	1:29			$0.99
5	5.Aria (Bass): Gott ist gerecht in seinen Werken	4:26			$0.99
6	6.Aria (Alto): O Mensch, errette deine Seele	1:43			$0.99
7	7.Chorale: Solang ein Gott im Himmel lebt	1:11			$0.99
8	8.Aria (Bass): Wacht auf, wacht auf, verlorne Schafe	2:44			$0.99
9	9.Recitative (Alto): Verlaß, o Mensch, die Wollust dieser Welt	1:25			$0.99
10	10.Duet (Alto, Tenor): O Menschenkind, hör auf geschwind	3:39			$0.99
11	11.Chorale: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort	1:14			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.2: Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh' darein (2nd Sunday after Trinity), BWV2 Work 18:12 Jan Van der Crabben Bass, La Petite Bande Orchestra, Petra Noskaiova Alto, Christoph Genz Tenor, Sigiswald Kuijken Conductor
12	1.Chorus: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein	5:25			$0.99
13	2.Recitative: Sie lehren alle falsche List	1:19			$0.99
14	3.Aria (Alto): Tilg', o Gott, die Lehren	3:30			$0.99
15	4.Recitative (Bass): Die Armen sind verstört	1:44			$0.99
16	5.Aria (Tenor): Durch Feuer wird das Silber rein	5:04			$0.99
17	6.Choral: Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein	1:10			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.10: Meine Seel' erhebet den Herren! (Visitation), BWV10 Work 19:53 Jan Van der Crabben Bass, Siri Karoline Thornhill Soprano, La Petite Bande Orchestra, Petra Noskaiova Alto, Christoph Genz Tenor, Sigiswald Kuijken Conductor
18	1.Chorale: Meine Seel' erhebt den Herrn	3:41			$0.99
19	2.Aria (Soprano): Herr, der du stark und mächtig bist	6:26			$0.99
20	3.Recitative (Tenor): Des höchsten Güt und Treu	1:25			$0.99
21	4.Aria (Bass): Gewaltige stösst Gott vom Stuhl	3:04			$0.99
22	5.Duet (Alto, Tenor): Er denket der Barmherzigkeit	2:19			$0.99
23	6.Recitative (Tenor): Was Gott den Vätern alter Zeiten	2:00			$0.99
24	7.Chorale: Lob und Preis sei Gott dem Vater	0:58			$0.99