Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg wrote:

>Hi all, as Easter approaches, I'd like to treat myself to a new version
>of Bach's St. Matthew's passion on period instruments.  I find that I
>now prefer this approach despite the fact that I've been born and raised
>on Richter's recording of the passion and on Rilling's cantatas and would
>not want to miss either.  I would bee especially interested in your thoughts
>about the new Herreweghe version since I liked Bostridge (who sings the
>evangelist) very much in his lieder recordings.

I have not heard the new Herreweghe reading but my favorite version on
period instruments AND all-male singers is the Gustav Leonhardt reading
on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.

Incidentally, I find that after several years of listening to St.
Matthew's Passion on "period" instruments and all-male singing voices that
to return to "modern" instruments and mix voices is -- frankly -- jarring
and very unsatisfying.  The same holds for ALL of Bach -- the Cantatas, the
motets, St. John's Passion, the Magnificat his organ music, etc.  It is,
of course, a purely personal thing but Bach on period instruments (and
using period playing techniques) is almost required now.  (Except --
strangely -- for the non-organ keyboard works where a modern piano is
often the "best" sounding to mw)

Dave Pitzer