Album

These are the days of miracles and wonders; not only are there already two complete recordings of all Bach's cantatas—the greatest body of sacred music since the Renaissance—but there are more cycles in progress. But while it is indeed wonderful to have so many recordings of so much great music available, there are drawbacks to each cycle. The Gustav Leonhardt/Nikolaus Harnoncourt cycle features some of the best performances ever recorded—those by Leonhardt—along with some of the worst—those by Harnoncourt. The Helmut Rilling cycle features some of the best solo and choral singing along with some of the worst playing and conducting. Ton Koopman's nearly completed cycle is always well-played, almost always well-sung, usually moving, often affecting, but sometimes more than a little eccentric. Masaaki Suzuki's continuing cycle is always impeccably played and affectingly sung, always gracefully conducted and warmly interpreted, and almost always deeply moving and profoundly spiritual. In Volume 27 of Suzuki's series, the performances by the orchestra and chorus of the Bach Collegium Japan are strong, supple, subtle, and inspired in the truest sense of the word. Recorded by BIS in Kobe in transparent sound, this disc demonstrates once again why, when it is finished, Masaaki Suzuki's cycle of Bach's cantatas may be the best ever recorded.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.80: Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott (Reformation Festival), BWV80 Work 23:21 Gerd Turk Tenor, Bach Collegium Japan Orchestra Ensemble, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Pascal Bertin Countertenor, Peter Kooij Bass, Susanne Ryden Soprano
1	1.Chorus: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott	5:32			$0.99
2	2.Aria with Chorale (Bass, Soprano): Alles, was von Gott geboren	3:41			$0.99
3	3.Recitative (Bass): Erwäge doch, Kind Gottes	1:53			$0.99
4	4.Aria (Soprano): Komm in mein Herzenshaus	3:00			$0.99
5	5.Chorale: Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär	3:03			$0.99
6	6.Recitative (Tenor): So stehe dann bei Christi blutgefärbten Fahne	1:16			$0.99
7	7.Duet (Alto, Tenor): Wie selig sind doch die, die Gott im Munde tragen	4:01			$0.99
8	8.Chorale: Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn	0:55			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.5: Wo soll ich fliehen hin (19th Sunday after Trinity), BWV5 Work 20:42 Gerd Turk Tenor, Bach Collegium Japan Orchestra Ensemble, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Pascal Bertin Countertenor, Peter Kooij Bass, Susanne Ryden Soprano
9	1.Chorus: Wo soll ich fliehen hin?	3:37			$0.99
10	2.Recitative (Bass): Der Sünden Wust	1:06			$0.99
11	3.Aria (Tenor): Ergieße dich reichlich	6:25			$0.99
12	4.Recitative (Alto): Mein treuer Heiland tröstet mich	1:29			$0.99
13	5.Aria (Bass): Verstumme, Höllenheer	6:30			$0.99
14	6.Recitative (Soprano): Ich bin ja nur das kleinste Teil	0:51			$0.99
15	7.Chorale: Führ auch mein Herz und Sinn	0:44			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.115: Mache dish, mein Geist bereit (22nd Sunday after Trinity), BWV115 Work 22:27 Gerd Turk Tenor, Bach Collegium Japan Orchestra Ensemble, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Pascal Bertin Countertenor, Peter Kooij Bass, Susanne Ryden Soprano
16	1.Chorus: Mache dich, mein Geist hereit	3:52			$0.99
17	2.Aria (Alto): Ach schläfrige Seele	8:33			$1.49
18	3.Recitative (Bass): Gott, so vor deine Seele wacht	1:15			$0.99
19	4.Aria (Soprano): Bete aber auch dabei	7:08			$1.49
20	5.Recitative (Tenor): Er sehnet sich nach unserm Schreien	0:50			$0.99
21	6.Chorale: Drum so laßt uns immerdar	0:49			$0.99