Bach – Cantatas Vol.15 (Suzuki)

01 – 08. Cantata No.40, "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes", BWV 40
09 – 13. Cantata No.60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort", BWV 60
14 – 24. Cantata No.70, "Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!", BWV 70
25 – 29. Cantata No.90, "Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende", BWV 90

Yukari Nonoshita, soprano
Robin Blaze, countertenor
Gerd Türk, tenor
Peter Kooij, bass

Bach Collegium Japan 
Masaaki Suzuki – director

Rec: September 2000, Kobe Shoin Women’s University, Japan.

Masaaki Suzuki continues his complete set of Bach’s sacred cantatas with this volume 15, featuring four cantatas from Bach’s early years in Leipzig, all written in late 1723. Suzuki’s restrained forces and excellent soloists once again put Bach into a very welcome perspective, as compared to other recordings of the cantatas.

Suzuki’s small chorus (twelve singers, three to each part) gives this music a delicate sound, with a fine texture and clear voicings. His light orchestral touch lets the singers take centre-stage, and such movements as the opening aria of cantata BWV 60, show the well judged balance he attains between instrumentalists and singers.

Suzuki’s singers are all to the usual high standard as they have shown in previous volumes of this series. Robin Blaze is one of the best countertenors singing this repertoire, and soprano Yukari Nonoshita shines, although she has only one solo in cantata BWV 70. Tenor Gerd Türk, an experienced Bach singer, is light and flexible, and stands out in his many appearances on this disc.

Bass Peter Kooij again shows himself to be one of the finest basses singing this repertoire. His brief aria in cantata BWV 40, Höllische Schange…, is magnificent. His voice has a fluidity and smoothness not heard often enough in singers at this range. His other appearances, in cantatas BWV 70 and 90, are equally satisfying, with the joyous aria So löschet in Eifer der rachende Richter, where he sings with obbligato trombone, an especially fine performance.

Masaaki Suzuki delivers yet another distinguished and enjoyable volume with a perfect balance between musicians and singers. His choice of small forces and well chosen tasteful soloists makes this yet another volume in what is probably the best set of recordings of Bach’s sacred cantatas. --- Kirk McElhearn, musicweb-international.com

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