J.S. Bach: Matthäus Passion (2)

J.S. Bach: Matthäus Passion (2)
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
Artist Rufus Müller tenor
Richard Jackson baritone
Nancy Argenta soprano
Lynda Lee mezzo-soprano
Jonathan Peter Kenny counter tenor
Jamie MacDougall tenor
Stephen Varcoe baritone
Paul Goodwin conductor
Jonathan Miller director
Format 2 CD
Cat. number 97010
EAN code 5028421970103
Release February 2024

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About this release

The audio version of Jonathan Miller’s ground-breaking production for TV of Bach’s great sacred drama. Staged and theatrical versions of sacred and liturgical works are now relatively commonplace, but when the BBC first screened this production of the St Matthew Passion in 1994, it was regarded as a daring enterprise. The production was first staged live at St Luke’s in Chelsea, the year before its transfer to the small screen, and filmed at St George’s Brandon Hill in Bristol.

Broadcast on Good Friday by the BBC, it became a fixture of the corporation’s Passiontide output for some years, and has continued to enjoy an afterlife online and on DVD, with its enduring values of sobriety, intimacy and simple expressiveness not only laying down the gauntlet for subsequent producers and directors but proving to outlast some of its more eccentric and ephemeral successors.

One primary reason for the durability of Miller’s production on film was its high musical values. Paul Goodwin had trained as an oboist but at this stage in his career he was beginning to take up a career in conducting that would lead him to direct the English Concert and many other frontline early-music ensembles as well as chamber and symphony orchestras.

On this occasion he conducted a freelance ensemble of vocal and instrumental colleagues with whom he enjoyed a long working relationship, and their thorough familiarity with the idiom and detail of the Passion shines through in the poise of the arias, the energy of the choruses and the text-centred expressiveness of the chorales.

The nature of Miller’s staging required it to be staged in the round, and this intimacy transfers readily to the audio recording of the film which is presented here with booklet notes by Goodwin tracing the special background to the recording.

The reissue of an excellent and iconic performance of J.S. Bach’s (1685-1750) great St. Matthew Passion by the best soloists and instrumentalists of the English Early Music scene of the nineties: Paul Goodwin leads a band of specialized period instrument players, including Rachel Podger as 1st violin and Ashley Solomon on flute, further featuring the vocal soloists Nancy Argenta, Lynda Lee, Rufus Müller, Richard Jackson, Jamie MacDougall, Stephen Varcoe and Jonathan Peter Kenny.
The recording catches a theatrical and stunning performance directed by the famous Jonathan Miller.
Originally featured on BBC 2 and issued on the Cala label in 1995.

Listening

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1: I. Chorus with Chorale I/II, Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen
  2. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Anointing in Bethany: II. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus), I Da Jesus diese Rede vollendet hatte
  3. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Anointing in Bethany: III. Chorale I/II, Herzliebster Jesu. was hast du verbrochen
  4. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Anointing in Bethany: IV. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Da versammelten sich die Hohenpriester
  5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Anointing in Bethany: V. Recitative (Alto) I, Du lieber Heiland du
  6. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Anointing in Bethany: VI. Aria (Alto) I, Buß und Reu
  7. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Betrayal of Jesus: VII. Recitative (Evangelist/Judas) I, Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer
  8. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Betrayal of Jesus: VIII. Aria (Soprano) I, Blute nur, du liebes Herz!
  9. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Last Supper: IX. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Aber am ersten Tage der süßen Brot
  10. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Last Supper: X. Chorale I/II, Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen
  11. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Last Supper: XI. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus/Judas) I, Er antwortete und sprach
  12. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Last Supper: XII. Recitative (Soprano) I, Wie wohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt
  13. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, The Last Supper: XIII. Aria (Soprano) I, lch will dir mein Herze schenken
  14. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XIV. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Und da sie den Lobgesang gesprochen hatten
  15. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XV. Chorale I/II, Erkenne mich, mein Hüter
  16. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XVI. Recitative (Evangelist/Peter/Jesus) I, Petrus aber antwortete und sprach zu ihm
  17. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XVII. Chorale I/II, Ich will hier bei dir stehen
  18. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XVIII. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Da kam Jesus mit ihnen zu einem Hofe
  19. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XIX. Recitative (Tenor) with Chorale I/II, O Schmerz!
  20. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Jesus’ Despair on the Mount of Olives: XX. Aria (Tenor) with Chorus I/II, Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen
  21. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXI. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Und ging hin ein wenig
  22. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXII. Recitative (Bass) II, Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder
  23. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXIII. Aria (Bass) II, Gerne will ich mich bequemen
  24. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXIV. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Und er kam zu seinen Jünger
  25. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXV. Chorale I/II, Was mein Gott will
  26. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Prayer on the Mount of Olives: XXVI. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Und er kam und fand sie aber schlafend Arrest of Jesus
  27. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Arrest of Jesus: XXVII. Recitative (Evangelist/Judas/Jesus) I, Und als er noch redete
  28. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Arrest of Jesus: XXVIII. Aria (Duet. Soprano and Alto) with Chorus I/II, So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen
  29. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Arrest of Jesus: XXIX. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I Und siehe, einer aus denen, die mit Jesu waren
  30. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 1, Arrest of Jesus: XXX. Chorale I/II, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß
  31. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Arrest of Jesus: XXXI. Aria (Alto) with Chorus I/II, Ach! nun ist mein Jesus hin!
  32. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: I. Recitative (Evangelist) I/II, Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten
  33. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: II. Chorale I/II, Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht'
  34. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: III. Recitative (Evangelist/1st & 2nd Witnesses/High Priest) I/II, Und wiewohl fälsche Zeugen herzutraten
  35. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: IV. Recitative (Tenor) II, Mein Jesus schweigt
  36. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: V. Aria (Tenor) II, Geduld! Wenn mich falsche Zungen stechen

Disk 2

  1. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: VI. Recitative (Evangelist/High Priest/Jesus) I, Und der Hohepriester antwortete und sprach zu ihm
  2. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests: VII. Chorale I/II, Wer hat dich so geschlagen
  3. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Peter’s Denial: VIII. Recitative (Evangelist/1st & 2nd Maids/Peter) I, Petrus aber saß draußen im Palast
  4. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Peter’s Denial: IX. Aria (Alto) I, Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen!
  5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Peter’s Denial: X. Chorale I/II, Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen Judas in the Temple
  6. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Judas in the Temple: XI. Recitative (Evangelist/Judas) I, Des Morgens aber hielten alle Hohepriester
  7. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Judas in the Temple: XII. Aria (Bass) II, Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder!
  8. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XIII. Recitative (Evangelist/Pilate/Jesus) I, Sie hielten aber einen Rat
  9. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: IX. Chorale I/II, Befiehl du deine Wege
  10. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: X. Recitative (Evangelist/Pilate/Pilate's Wife/Chorus) I/II, Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger Gewohnheit
  11. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XI. Chorale I/II, Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!
  12. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XII. Recitative (Evangelist/Pilate) I, Der Landpfleger sagte
  13. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XIII. Recitative (Soprano) I, Er hat uns allen wohlgetan
  14. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XIV. Aria (Soprano) I, Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben
  15. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Jesus before Pilate: XV. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Sie schrieen aber noch mehr und sprachen
  16. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, The Scourging of Jesus: I. Recitative (Alto) II, Erbarm es Gott!
  17. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, The Scourging of Jesus: II. Aria (Alto) II, Können Tränen meiner Wangen
  18. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, The Scourging of Jesus: III. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte des Landpflegers
  19. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, The Scourging of Jesus: IV. Chorale I/II, O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden
  20. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Simon of Cyrene: I. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten
  21. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Simon of Cyrene: II. Recitative (Bass) I, Ja freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut
  22. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Simon of Cyrene: III. Aria (Bass) I, Komm, süßes Kreuz, so will ich sagen
  23. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: I. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Und da sie an die Stätte kamen mit Namen Golgatha
  24. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: II. Recitative (Alto) I, Ach Golgatha, unselges Golgatha!
  25. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: III. Aria (Alto) with Chorus I/II, Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand
  26. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: IV. Recitative (Evangelist/Jesus) I, Und von der sechsten Stunde an
  27. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: V. Chorale I/II, Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden
  28. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Crucifixion: VI. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriss
  29. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Descent from the Cross: I. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Und es waren viel Weiber da
  30. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Descent from the Cross: II. Recitative (Bass) I, Am Abend, da es kühle war
  31. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Descent from the Cross: III. Aria (Bass) I, Mache dich, mein Herze, rein
  32. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Burial: I. Recitative (Evangelist) I, Und Joseph nahm den Leib
  33. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Burial: II. Recitative (Soli) with Chorus I/II, Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht
  34. Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus Passion, BWV 244, Pt. 2, Burial: III. Chorus I/II, Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder