Album

The ongoing cycle of Bach cantata releases by conductor Masaaki Suzuki and his Japan Bach Collegium has been a major fixture of the historical-performance scene in the first years of the 21st century. The cycle neared its end with this trio of cantatas, each of which begins with a large chorus illustrating the theme and often the substance of the text before proceeding with arias for each of three soloists (soprano, alto, and bass) and ending with the usual chorale. Unlike competitors who have grouped the cantatas by external criteria, Suzuki presents sets of musically similar pieces, making for single discs that are more homogeneous and more likely to focus the listener's attention on close details. And close details there are aplenty in Suzuki's readings, which expose Bach's polyphony in precisely controlled choral singing (the Collegium consists of about 18 singers, handpicked and clearly extensively drilled) unlike any other performances on the market. If John Eliot Gardiner is the Brahms of historical Bach performance, with the warmth and humanism of his readings, Suzuki is perhaps the Webern. Suzuki excels in complex, detailed choruses such as the first movement of the Cantata No. 39, "Brich den Hungrigen dein Brot," BWV 39 (Break thy bread to the hungry), with its shifts in texture illuminating the breaking of bread, and his multinational group of soloists is nonpareil. If there's any complaint this time, it's that countertenor Robin Blaze is something less than full voice, but the BIS label's sound has, if possible, even more lifelike transparency than usual. Recommended; sample any one of the opening choruses, and you may be hooked on the "Suzuki method."

© James Manheim, Rovi

CD 1
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.39: Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (1st Sunday after Trinity), BWV39 Work 20:09 Bach Collegium Japan Vocal Ensemble, Yukari Nonoshita Soprano, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Peter Kooij Bass, Robin Blaze Countertenor
1	1.Chorus: Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot	7:05			$1.49
2	2.Recitative (Bass): Der reiche Gott wirft seinen Überfluß	1:27			$0.99
3	3.Aria (Alto): Seinem Schöpfer noch auf Erden	3:26			$0.99
4	4.Aria (Bass): Wohlzutun und mitzuteilen vergesset nicht	2:37			$0.99
5	5.Aria (Soprano): Höchster, was ich habe	2:58			$0.99
6	6.Recitative (Alto): Wie soll ich dir, o Herr, denn sattsamlich vergelten	1:34			$0.99
7	7.Choral: Selig sind, die aus Erbarmen	1:02			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.187: Es wartet alles auf dich (7th Sunday after Trinity), BWV187 Work 20:56 Bach Collegium Japan Vocal Ensemble, Yukari Nonoshita Soprano, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Peter Kooij Bass, Robin Blaze Countertenor
8	1.Chorus: Es wartet alles auf dich	5:44			$0.99
9	2.Recitative (Bass): Was Kreaturen hält	0:56			$0.99
10	3.Aria (Alto): Du Herr, du krönst allein	3:41			$0.99
11	4.Aria (Bass): Darum sollt ihr nicht sorgen	3:29			$0.99
12	5.Aria (Soprano): Gott versorget alles Leben	3:50			$0.99
13	6.Recitative (Soprano): Halt ich nur fest an ihm	1:19			$0.99
14	7.Chorale: Gott hat die Erde zugericht'	1:57			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.129: Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott (Trinity), BWV129 Work 17:20 Bach Collegium Japan Vocal Ensemble, Yukari Nonoshita Soprano, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Peter Kooij Bass, Masamitsu San'nomiya Oboe d'amore, Kiyomi Suga Transverse Flute, Robin Blaze Countertenor
15	1.Chorus: Gelobet sei der Herr	3:57			$0.99
16	2.Aria (Bass): Gelobet sei der Herr	3:23			$0.99
17	3.Aria (Soprano): Gelobet sei der Herr	3:55			$0.99
18	4.Aria (Alto): Gelobet sei der Herr	4:36			$0.99
19	5.Chorale: Dem wir das Heilig itzt	1:29			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Sinfonia in D, for Violin, 3 Trumpets, Timpani, 2 Tboes, Strings and Continuo, BWV1045 (from lost cantata) Work Bach Collegium Japan Vocal Ensemble, Masaaki Suzuki Director, Robin Blaze Countertenor, Natsumi Wakamatsu Violin
20	Sinfonia in D, for Violin, 3 Trumpets, Timpani, 2 Tboes, Strings and Continuo, BWV1045 (from lost cantata)	6:28			$0.99