Bach: Cantatas

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Scott Paulin
Much acclaim has been heaped upon bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff's previous recordings of the German Romantic repertoire from Schubert to Mahler. But it's no exaggeration that this disc of Bach's three cantatas for bass -- Quasthoff's first foray into the Baroque -- is a revelation: From his first entry in the "Kreuzstab" Cantata, it is clear that the particular expressive qualities and colors of his voice are simply ideal for this immensely moving music. There's no need even to follow along with the translated texts, for Quasthoff communicates the music's spiritual meanings with a directness and intensity that surpasses language. He does have some stiff competition in ...
See more details below
CD
$14.43
BN.com price
(Save 15%)$16.99 List Price
Other sellers (CD)
  • All (6) from $3.94   
  • New (5) from $10.67   
  • Used (1) from $3.94   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Scott Paulin
Much acclaim has been heaped upon bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff's previous recordings of the German Romantic repertoire from Schubert to Mahler. But it's no exaggeration that this disc of Bach's three cantatas for bass -- Quasthoff's first foray into the Baroque -- is a revelation: From his first entry in the "Kreuzstab" Cantata, it is clear that the particular expressive qualities and colors of his voice are simply ideal for this immensely moving music. There's no need even to follow along with the translated texts, for Quasthoff communicates the music's spiritual meanings with a directness and intensity that surpasses language. He does have some stiff competition in these works, especially in Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's poignant performance of the cantata "Ich habe genug" in its version for alto, which was featured on a Bach disc that topped the classical critics' lists in 2003. Yet this work, which expresses a yearning for death as a respite from the sorrows of life, seems to elicit a deeply personal response from any great singer who approaches it, and Quasthoff is no exception. With his deep and robust voice, his interpretation appears at first to be a more stoic one -- but this only makes the moments of vulnerability that emerge, especially in the ineffably beautiful aria "Schlummert ein," all the more affecting. Quasthoff has excellent support here from the Berliner Barock Solisten members of the Berlin Philharmonic, with especially noteworthy contributions from the oboe and violin soloists. No less than the vocalist, the ensemble probes deeply into Bach's cantatas, and the result is a remarkable example of music making at its most sublime.
All Music Guide - James Leonard
Sooner or later, if you're a German baritone with aspirations of grandeur, you've got to take a shot at Bach's two great baritone cantatas, the gloomy "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen BWV 56" and the doomy "Ich habe genug BWV 82." Thus it was inevitable that Thomas Quasthoff, arguably the best German baritone of the past ten years, would have to take on "Ich will" and "Ich habe." But given that the gloom and doom weltanschauung of Bach's Lutheran Germany is all but ignored in these cheerfully fundamentalist times, how does Quasthoff, the former thalidomide baby with a voice of burnished bronze, do at projecting dismal despair? Thankfully, not all that well. Not only does Quasthoff perform with his by now customary strength and elegance, but Quasthoff interprets with his by now customary warmth and compassion. Quasthoff knows full well the depths of doom and gloom in Bach's texts, but he also knows that despite it all, life is good and his singing projects a love of life that few other performers can match. That Quasthoff's "Ich will" and "Ich habe" are separated on this disc by a powerfully affirmative "Der Friede sei mit dir BWV 158" only makes the message more positive. The choral singing by members of the RIAS-Kammerchor is subtle and strong and the orchestral playing of the Berliner Barock Solisten is nuanced and sensitive. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is clear and detailed.
Gramophone - Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
If Bach had heard Thomas Quasthoff, he might have considered making his Evangelist a baritone.... This is a Bach performance brimming with vitality, meaning and risk.

If Bach had heard Thomas Quasthoff, he might have considered making his Evangelist a baritone.... This is a Bach performance brimming with vitality, meaning and risk.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/9/2004
  • Label: Deutsche Grammophon
  • UPC: 028947753261
  • Catalog Number: 000345802
  • Sales rank: 77,298

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1–5 Cantata No. 56, "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen," BWV 56 (BC A146) - Johann Sebastian Bach & Merle Kersten (18:16)
    Composed byJohann Sebastian Bach
    Conducted byRainer Kussmaul
    Performed byRainer Kussmaul, Daniel Reuss
    1. 1Aria. Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen
    2. 2Recitative. Mein Wandel auf der Welt
    3. 3Aria. Endlich, endlich wird mein Joch
    4. 4Recitative and Arioso. Ich stehe fertig und bereit
    5. 5Chorale. Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder
  2. 6–9 Cantata No. 158, "Der Friede sei mit dir," BWV 158 (BC A61) - Martin Luther & Johann Sebastian Bach (10:27)
    Composed byJohann Sebastian Bach
    Conducted byRainer Kussmaul
    Performed byRIAS-Kammerchor Berlin, Rainer Kussmaul, Daniel Reuss
    1. 6Recitative. Der Friede sei mir dir
    2. 7Aria and Chorale. Welt, ade, ich bin dein müde
    3. 8Recitative. Nun Herr, regiere meinen Sinn
    4. 9Chorale. Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm
  3. 10–14 Cantata No. 82, "Ich habe genug," BWV 82 (BC A169) - Johann Sebastian Bach & Merle Kersten (21:15)
    Composed byJohann Sebastian Bach
    Conducted byRainer Kussmaul
    Performed byRainer Kussmaul
    1. 10Aria. Ich habe genug
    2. 11Recitative. Ich habe genug! Mein Trost ist nur allein
    3. 12Aria. Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen
    4. 13Recitative. Mein Gott! wann kommt das schöne. Nun!
    5. 14Aria. Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Thomas Quasthoff Primary Artist
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously