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Bach: Christmas Oratorio (CD Review - Classic FM Magazine, 2013)
David Mellor's Album of the Week Christmas has come early. Or at least, Bach's Christmas Oratorio has come early as far as David Mellor is concerned. This week, David unwraps one Christmas present very early - a magnificent new recording of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Trinity College Choir Cambridge under the conductor, Stephen Layton. It's David
Bach: Christmas Oratorio (CD Review - Audiophile Audition, 2013)
The Bach is a given—one of the most joyous works he ever wrote, it is a bit unusual in that it was not given at a single church setting, but spread over six different days in true cantata-style. However, what is unusual is the presence of a narrator in the guise of the Evangelist, not as involved as in the Passions perhaps, but significant nonetheless, and James Gilchrist does an excellent job as
Bach: St John Passion (CD Review - Early Music Review, 2013)
Stephen Layton directs this intense, dramatic reading with intelligence and integrity, ably assisted by an excellent team of soloists. Ian Bostridge is a superly articulate, agile and expressive Evangelist'
Bach: St John Passion (CD Review - The Dominion Post, 2013)
'There have been many fine recordings of this work … but this is the equal of anything I have heard. Lead by tenor Ian Bostridge as the Evangelist, and Neal Davies as Christ, this is a rivetingly taut and dramatic performance, beautifully recorded' Reviewed in The Dominion Post, New Zealand
Bach: St John Passion (CD Review - International Record Review, 2013)
A very welcome new recording … Stephen Layton presents an intelligently perceptive performance, beautifully sung by a fine team of soloists … This recorded version comes finely honed, a deep familiarity with the score not causing any hint of routine but showing itself in an easy fluency as it passes from devotional strength though the depths of pathos and anguish to high drama, the immediate after
Bach: St John Passion (CD Review - Audiophile Audition, 2013)
To recap: there are five extent “versions” of Bach’s St. John Passion. I say this because today’s listening audience doesn’t always get what’s on the inside of the recording package by reading what is on the outside. To complicate things, the version that Layton has chosen follows the Neue Bach-Ausgabe, a respected edition that offers plausible solutions to the problem of this multi-sourced work,