COMPOSERS: Bach
LABELS: BIS
ALBUM TITLE: Bach Cantatas Vol 26
WORKS: Cantatas BWV 96, 122 & 180
PERFORMER: Yukari Nonoshita, Timothy Kenworthy-Brown, Makoto Sakurada, Peter KoojiBach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki
CATALOGUE NO: BIS CD1401
Masaaki Suzuki has maintained
the reduced choral strength first
encountered in Vol. 25 of Bach
Collegium Japan’s cantata series
(reviewed last November). The result
is an even greater linear clarity than
before and an additional luminosity,
too, which serves particularly well
the lyrical opening chorus of BWV
180. As Suzuki reminds us in his
introductory essay, this movement,
one of three in the cantata which
incorporates a stanza of Johann
Franck’s communion hymn with
Johann Crüger’s celebrated melody,
is among the most beautiful in Bach’s
vocal repertoire. The 12 voices of
the choir achieve an ethereal and
altogether magical effect in this
dance movement with its softly
coloured accompaniment of treble
recorders, oboe, oboe da caccia and
strings. But there is an important
contemplative dimension to this
hymn which is better understood,
perhaps, by Gustav Leonhardt
(Teldec) and Fritz Werner (Erato),
both of whom allow the music to
unfold at a much more leisurely pace. Having said that, Suzuki’s
overall performance of this satisfying
work, almost a dance suite, sets
a very high level indeed of Bach
interpretation.
BWV 122, a Christmas piece,
and BWV 96 for the Trinity season
come off comparably well with more
relaxed tempos than in BWV 180.
The solo vocalists, who also sing
in the choruses are excellent, with
outstanding contributions from
Yukari Nonoshita and Makoto
Sakurada, both of whom feature
in the previous volume. Timothy
Kenworthy-Brown is a newcomer to
the series who, though he has no arias
in these particular works, promises
well. The instrumental playing is,
as almost invariably, accomplished
with especially agile contributions
from Liliko Maeda (flute) and
Akimasa Mukae (sopranino
recorder). Nicholas Anderson