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.