Date: |
Wed, 10 Nov 1999 19:39:29 -0000 |
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Donald Satz wrote:
>It took far too long for me to acquire volume 10 of the Suzuki/Bach cantata
>series on BIS, but the wait was well worth it. ...
>
>I think that Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan really hit their stride
>with this volume. The orchestral contributions are sterling with great
>pacing and dramatic unfolding. Recorded sound is close to perfect.
An unreserved seconding for this recommendation from me. I was persuaded
by the folks over on the Bach Recordings list to start collecting this
series (in addition to the complete Rilling and Harnoncourt/Leonhardt sets
that I already have) and am very glad I took their advice. The series has
been very fine in general, and this volume is one of the stand-outs.
>My only reservation, one that seems to be consistent in this series,
>concerns the vocal soloists: Miah Persson (soprano), Robin Blaze (alto),
>Makoto Sakurada (tenor), and Peter Kooij (bass). Each one is acceptable
>with Kooij substantially better than the others who just did not display
>vocal beauty in abundance. They did not detract from the performances
>however.
Funny, I don't share this reservation. I've always felt that for many,
many Bach vocal recordings it's been the vocal soloists that have always
been liable to be the week links - with faults ranging from unsteady
intonation through to frequent over-casting. Suzuki, to my ears, has
consistently chosen very fine young soloists with voices ideally suited to
the music. I'd identify Peter Kooy as being the vocal rock of this series
- Suzuki has really let him rip in this series whereas for other conductors
he seems to have been kept on a leash!
all the best,
Simon Crouch.
|
|
|