James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – Bach, J.S.: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – Bach, J.S.: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:41:02 minutes | 2,64 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © SDG

A new live recording of Bach’s St Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion BWV 244), recorded in Pisa Cathedral during the Anima Mundi Festival as part of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra’s 2016 tour.
As well as the full sung texts, the booklet includes both a programme note by Sir John Eliot Gardiner as well as his tour notes: written both before and during their 6-month international tour – which began in Valencia in March and concluded with this performance in Pisa on 22 September – these include diary entries and notes given during rehearsals or sent in the aftermath of concerts to the performers (who were performing from memory).

In last week’s newsletter I interviewed Sir John Eliot Gardiner about recording Bach’s St Matthew Passion live, three decades after his pioneering studio account of the work (made in Snape Maltings in 1989); the proof of the pudding is of course in the eating, and as numerous readers responded to ask for a review, here are a few thoughts from me on how it measures up.
Gardiner may have lived with this music for half his life, but still gives the impression that he’s discovering little miracles in it for the first time: there’s never any sense of routine from him or from the performers, despite this being the final performance of a gruelling European tour. Having all singers commit the score to memory was clearly more than a mere marketing gimmick or endurance-test: the Monteverdi Choir can turn on a dime from the rapt contemplation of the chorales to the savagery of the crowd baying for Christ’s blood. That’s not to suggest that there’s any drop in emotional temperature during the chorales themselves: the sense that everyone is personally invested in the unfolding events is every bit as palpable as it was in Peter Sellars’ staged ‘ritualisation’ from Berlin which I reviewed a few years ago (those of you who’ve read last week’s interview may remember that Gardiner didn’t pull his punches about his dislike of ‘painfully gratuitous’ stagings, but this recording’s imbued with his conviction that Bach approached the Passion story with ‘the flair of the born dramatist’).
James Gilchrist’s Evangelist is a known quantity (he’s recorded the role for Richard Egarr and Paul McCreesh), but the live performance spurs him onto ever more vivid and at times harrowing commentary – the shock of each humiliation heaped upon Jesus is as raw as if you’d never heard the narrative before. Stephan Loges bears out Gardiner’s remarks about the Jesus of the Matthew Passion being ‘more human’ than in the John, and indeed this comes across more strongly here than on the 1989 recording, where Stephen Varcoe was almost dispassionate when predicting his denial by Peter – here Loges flares with barely-suppressed anger and hurt.
So what else is different, thirty years down the line? In terms of tempi, very little: Gardiner remains ever-aware of the dance-impulses underlying the music, though my general impression was of the arias in particular being given more space to unfold even when the metronome-markings are virtually identical on the two recordings. The contrasting acoustics also play a role: Pisa Cathedral is warmer and more resonant than Snape, and the antiphonal exchanges are more pronounced (helped by the positioning of the two choirs – throughout the tour, Gardiner made a point of capitalising on the dramatic potential of the large performing-spaces available).
As on his earlier recording, Gardiner shares the arias around rather than bringing in single dedicated soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists; this time round, the individual singers (with the exception of the Evangelist and Jesus) are all ‘step-outs’ from the Monteverdi Choir. If solo contributions are perhaps less consistently assured across the board than those on the earlier set (which boasted names including Barbara Bonney and Anne Sofie von Otter), there are some lovely distinctive voices: the bass-baritones Ashley Riches and Jonathan Sells give particularly eloquent accounts of ‘Komm, süsses Kreuz!’ and ‘Mache dich’ respectively, as well as making vivid and incisive contributions as Pilate and Judas. Other stand-outs are sopranos Zoe Brookshaw and Hannah Morrison, both steady and clear of tone but with more bloom and warmth than their counterparts in 1989.
One for Gardiner devotees and newcomers alike, then: if you own his earlier recording, you’ll want to hear this for the crackling dramatic energy generated by the live performance; if you’re looking for a first Matthew Passion, you’ll be held spellbound by the unflagging momentum of a reading that’s the product of three decades of studying, performing and loving this music. –Katherine Cooper, Presto Classical

Tracklist:

01. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen (Chorus) (06:52)
02. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Da Jesus diese Rede vollendet hatte (Evangelist, Jesus) (00:36)
03. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen (Chorus) (00:41)
04. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Da versammleten sich die Hohenpriester (Evangelist, Chorus, Jesus) (02:58)
05. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Du lieber Heiland du (Alto) (00:51)
06. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Aria: Buß und Reu (Alto) (03:55)
07. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer (Evangelist, Judas) (00:38)
08. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Blute nur, du liebes Herz (Soprano) (04:26)
09. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative and Chorus: Aber am ersten Tage der süßen Brot (Evangelist, Chorus, Jesus) (02:04)
10. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: Ich bin’s, ich sollte büßen (Chorus) (00:44)
11. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Er antwortete und sprach (Evangelist, Jesus, Judas) (02:44)
12. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Wiewohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt (Soprano) (01:18)
13. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Aria: Ich will dir mein Herze schenken (Soprano) (03:13)
14. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Und da sie den Lobgesang gesprochen hatten (Evangelist, Jesus) (00:57)
15. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: Erkenne mich, mein Hüter (Chorus) (00:58)
16. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Petrus aber antwortete (Petrus, Evangelist, Jesus) (00:55)
17. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: Ich will hier bei dir stehen (Chorus) (01:02)
18. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Da kam Jesus mit ihnen zu einem Hofe (Evangelist, Jesus) (01:29)
19. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative and Chorale: O Schmerz, hier zittert das gequälte Herz (Tenor, Chorus) (01:57)
20. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Aria and Chorus: Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen (Tenor, Chorus) (04:55)
21. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Und ging hin ein wenig (Evangelist, Jesus) (00:40)
22. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder (Bass) (00:54)
23. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Aria: Gerne will ich mich bequemen (Bass) (03:52)
24. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Und er kam zu seinen Jüngern (Evangelist, Jesus) (01:11)
25. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: Was mein Gott will, das g’scheh allzeit (Chorus) (00:58)
26. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Und er kam und fand sie aber schlafend (Evangelist, Jesus, Judas) (02:17)
27. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Aria and Chorus: So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen (Alto, Soprano, Chorus) (05:02)
28. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Recitative: Und siehe, einer aus denen (Evangelist, Jesus) (02:01)
29. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: Chorale: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (Chorus) (05:35)
30. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria and Chorus: Ach! Nun ist mein Jesus hin (Alto, Chorus) (03:27)
31. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten (Evangelist) (01:02)
32. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht’ (Chorus) (00:38)
33. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Und wiewohl viel falsche Zeugen herzutraten (Evangelist, Testis, Pontifex) (01:11)
34. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Mein Jesus schweigt zu falschen Lügen stille (Tenor) (01:03)
35. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Geduld! (Tenor) (03:47)
36. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Und der Hohepriester antwortete (Evangelist, Pontifex, Jesus, Chorus) (01:58)
37. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Wer hat dich so geschlagen (Chorus) (00:59)
38. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Petrus aber saß draußen im Palast (Evangelist, Petrus, Ancilla, Chorus) (02:27)
39. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Erbarme dich (Alto) (07:03)
40. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen (Chorus) (01:00)
41. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Des Morgens aber hielten alle Hohepriester (Evangelist, Judas, Chorus, Pontifices) (01:43)
42. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder (Bass) (02:44)
43. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Sie hielten aber einen Rat (Evangelist, Pilatus, Jesus) (02:04)
44. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Befiehl du deine Wege (Chorus) (01:06)
45. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger (Evangelist, Pilatus, Uxor Pilati, Chorus) (02:11)
46. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe (Chorus) (00:42)
47. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Der Landpfleger sagte (Evangelist, Pilatus) (00:17)
48. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Er hat uns allen wohlgetan (Soprano) (01:15)
49. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben (Soprano) (05:27)
50. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Sie schrieen aber noch mehr (Evangelist, Chorus, Pilatus) (01:46)
51. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Erbarm es Gott (Alto) (01:00)
52. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Können Tränen meiner Wangen (Alto) (06:20)
53. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte (Evangelist, Chorus) (01:07)
54. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (Chorus) (01:58)
55. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten (Evangelist) (01:08)
56. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Ja! freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut (bass) (00:32)
57. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Komm, süßes Kreuz (Bass) (06:16)
58. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Und da sie an die Stätte kamen mit (Evangelist, Chorus) (03:19)
59. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Ach Golgatha, unsel’ges Golgatha (Alto) (01:20)
60. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria and Chorus: Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand (Alto, Chorus) (03:07)
61. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Und von der sechsten Stunde an (Evangelist, Jesus, Chorus) (02:23)
62. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden (Chorus) (01:44)
63. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß (Evangelist, Chorus) (02:34)
64. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative: Am Abend, da es kühle war (Bass) (01:49)
65. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Aria: Mache dich, mein Herze, rein (Bass) (06:35)
66. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Und Joseph nahm den Leib (Evangelist, Chorus, Pilatus) (02:35)
67. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Recitative and Chorus: Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht (Bass, Tenor, Alto, Soprano, Chorus) (01:50)
68. James Gilchrist, Stephan Loges, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2: Chorale: Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder (Chorus) (05:18)

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