Lange Schatten [Import]

1. Wölfe

2. Sperr' Mich Nicht Ein

3. Hund des Krieges

4. Versuch's Doch Mal Mit Mir

5. Zehn Stunden

6. Wenn Ketten Deine Antwort Sind

7. Ringelpietz

8. Nie Wieder Sieger Sein

9. Weit Von Mir

10. Kalter Krieg

11. Brüder

12. Bist Nie Der Kassierer

13. Unter Sternen

14. Lange Schatten

15. Spiel Ohne Ziel

16. Leg' Noch Nicht Auf

17. Freunde

18. Schiff in Der Nacht

19. Nochmal

20. Viel Zu Spät (I Got Stripes)

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews:

The "Clinker" of the bunch.......2006-12-19

Having collected the entire "The Masterworks" series (including the Bach and Mozart Complete Works) this set is the 'clinker' of the bunch. First off... 6 CD's of Lieder 'historic' (pre-historic) recordings. No Overtures, No Orchestral Seranades, No Haydn Variations?? The performances of the Symphonies and the Concertos are shakey and not very well recorded. Brilliant Classics, who has done such a wonderful job with the Hadyn Complete Symphonies (licensed from Nimbus), the Mozart and Bach Complete sets, has stumbled a bit with this release.

Average customer rating:

The best possible case for a rarely performed work

Brahms/Tieck: the Fair Magelone

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004VVYB
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Long Years Ago'
15 Romances: Nr. 1 'Keinen Hat Es Noch Gereut'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'The Youth Listened To The Song'
15 Romances: Nr. 2 'Traun ! Bogen And Pfeil'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'After Travelling For Many Days'
15 Romances: Nr. 3 'Sind Es Schmerzen, Sind Es Freuden'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'The Sound Died Away'
15 Romances: Nr. 4 'Liebe Kam Aus Fernen Landen'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Magelone Was Moved By This Song'
15 Romances: Nr. 5 'So Willst Du Des Armen'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'The Next Morning'
15 Romances: Nr. 6 'Wie Soll Ich Die Freude'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'When He Woke'
15 Romances: Nr. 7 'War Es Dir, Dem Diese Lippen Bebten'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Peter Had Visited His Lady'
15 Romances: Nr. 8 'Wir Mussen Uns Trennen'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'They Fled Under Cover Of Darkness'
15 Romances: Nr. 9 'Ruhe, Sussliebchen, Im Schatten'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Peter Looked Up'
15 Romances: Nr. 10 'So Tonet Denn, Schaumende Wellen'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Magelone Awoke'
15 Romances: Nr. 11 'Wie Schnell Verschwindet So Licht Als Glanz'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Peter Lay In The Boat'
15 Romances: Nr. 12 'Muss Es EineTrennung Geben'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'After Wandering For Many Days'
15 Romances: Nr. 13 'Geliebter, Wo Zaudert Dein Irrender Fuss'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Peter Was Siezed With Dismay'
15 Romances: Nr. 14 'Wie Froh Und Frisch Mein Sinn Sich Hebt'
Story Of The Love Between The Fair Magelone And Count Peter Of Provence: 'Meanwhile In Provence'
15 Romances: Nr. 15 'Treue Liebe Dauert Lange'

Customer Reviews:

The best possible case for a rarely performed work.......2001-06-10

Brahms composed his Magelone cycle for a baritone (Julius Stockhausen, a good friend of the composer), yet the tessitura is almost tenor-like in some of the songs. Christoph Pregardien is a tenor with a baritone-like boom in his voice (as well as all the required low notes), hence he is an ideal interpreter of this warmly romantic song-cycle, as is clearly demonstrated on this disc. He and fortepianist Andreas Staier encompass all the varied emotions of this cycle. Youthful impetuosness and ecstasy, pensive reflection, tenderness, warm contentedness, despair, confusion, doubt, and quiet joy are all projected with utmost vividness, flowing tempi, and great variety of articulation (helped by the fortepiano) and dynamics. The inclusion of Vanessa Redgrave as a narrator (what warmth her voice has!) helps to make sense out of these songs, which are (in essence) lyric reflections of a "missing" narrative (unlike Schubert's "Die schöne Müllerin" and "Winterreise" where the songs themselves tell the story). This is by far the best interpretation of this song-cycle I've encountered (surpassing even Peter Schreier's recording). Anyone interested in Brahms or Lieder (or both) should acquire this CD without delay!

Average customer rating:

A Major Document of an Incredible Oeuvre...

Schubert: Lieder

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
The Schubert Song Companion
Schubert: Schwanengesang; 4 Lieder
Schubert: The String Quartets
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli plays Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, etc. (Box) [Germany]

ASIN: B000AYQCIK
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Customer Reviews:

A Major Document of an Incredible Oeuvre..........2007-03-12

.
Of over 600 songs, Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore realized over three-quarters: these are those. Gerald Moore was of course as important to this project as Fischer-Dieskau.

DGG's sound is excellent.

This set is a remarkable document of art.
.

The Hugo Wolf Society - The Complete Edition 1931-1938

Average customer rating:

The Hugo Wolf Society Recordings
"Even little things can delight us."
"Even little things can delight us."
Wolf sung by various Lieder singers

The Hugo Wolf Society - The Complete Edition 1931-1938

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch
Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin
Wolf: Lieder (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Gerald Moore)
Joseph Haydn Operas 1
Hans Hotter Wolf Lieder Recital

ASIN: B000009OQC
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Tracks:

Moerike-Lieder: 8. Begegnung
Moerike-Lieder: 38. Lied vom Winde
Moerike-Lieder: 15. Auf einer Wanderung
Moerike-Lieder: 41. Rat einer Alten
Spanisches Liederbuch: 12. In dem Schatten meiner Locken
Moerike-Lieder: 37. Heimweh (Anders wird die Welt)
Spanisches Liederbuch: 4. Die ihr schwebet um diese Palmen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 6. Ach, des Knaben Augen
Spanisches Liederbuch: Nun wandre, Maria
Moerike-Lieder: 46. Gesang Weylas
Spanisches Liederbuch: 9. Herr, was traegt der Boden hier
Italiensches Liederbuch: 1. Auch kleine Dinge
Moerike-Lieder: 7. Das verlassene Maegdlein
Eichendorff-Lieder: 4. Das Staendchen
Spanisches Liederbuch: Wenn du zu den Blumen gehst
Italiensches Liederbuch: 34. Und steht Ihr frueh am Morgen auf
Italiensches Liederbuch: 16. Ihr jungen Leute
Italiensches Liederbuch: 10. Du denkst mit einem Faedchen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 12. Nein, junger Herr
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 1: Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 2: An die Tueren will ich schleichen
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 3: Wer nie sein Brot
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 29. Anakreons Grab
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 15. Cophtisches Lied 2 (Geh! Gehorche)
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 21. Genialisch Treiben
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 11. Der Rattenfenger
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 19. Epiphanias
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 26. Die Sproede
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 27. Die Bekehrte
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 24. Blumengruss
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 25. Gleich und gleich
Goethe-Lieder: 1-3 Drei Harfenspieler: 28. Fruehling uebers Jahr

Tracks:

Goethe-Lieder: 49. Prometheus
Goethe-Lieder: 50. Ganymed
Goethe-Lieder: 18. Beherzigung
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 1: Wohl denk' ich oft
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 2: Alles endet, was entstehet
1-3 Drei Gedichte von Michelangelo: 3: Fuehlt meine Seele
Moerike-Lieder: 19. Um Mitternacht
Moerike-Lieder: 42. Erstes Liebeslied eines Maedchens
Moerike-Lieder: 45. Nixe Binsefuss
Spanisches Liederbuch: Moegen alle boesen Zungen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 24. Koepfchen, Koepfchen, nicht gewimmert
Spanisches Liederbuch: 11. Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero
Spanisches Liederbuch: 26. Bitt ihn, o Mutter
Italiensches Liederbuch: 6. Wer rief dich denn?
Italiensches Liederbuch: 25. Mein Liebster hat zu Tische mich geladen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 43. Schweig einmal still
Italiensches Liederbuch: 35. Benedeit die sel'ge Mutter
Italiensches Liederbuch: 7. Der Mond hat eine schwere Klag' erhoben
Italiensches Liederbuch: 27. Schon streckt' ich aus im Bett die mueden Glieder
Goethe-Lieder: 51. Grenzen der Menschheit
Italiensches Liederbuch: 32. Was soll der Zorn, mein Schatz
Italiensches Liederbuch: 24. Ich esse nun mein Brot nicht trocken mehr
Italiensches Liederbuch: 31. Wie soll ich froehlich sein
Italiensches Liederbuch: 11. Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 28. Du sagst mir, dass ich keine Fuerstin sei
Italiensches Liederbuch: 26. Ich liess mir sagen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 29. Wohl kenn' ich Euren Stand
Italiensches Liederbuch: 21. Man sagt mir, deine Mutter woll' es nicht
Italiensches Liederbuch: 36. Wenn du, mein Liebster, steigst zum Himmel auf

Tracks:

Italiensches Liederbuch: 20. Mein Liebster singt am Haus im Mondenscheine
Italiensches Liederbuch: 40. O waer' dein Haus durchsichtig wie ein Glas
Italiensches Liederbuch: 39. Gesegnet sei das Gruen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 2. Mir ward gesagt, du reisest in die Ferne
Italiensches Liederbuch: 15. Mein Liebster ist so klein
Italiensches Liederbuch: 46. Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebster wohnen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 4. Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt entstund
Italiensches Liederbuch: 3. Ihr seid die Allerschoenste
Italiensches Liederbuch: 13. Hoffaertig seid Ihr, schoenes Kind
Italiensches Liederbuch: 9. Dass doch gemalt all deine Reize waeren
Italiensches Liederbuch: 17. Und willst du deinen Liebsten sterben sehen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 38. Wenn du mich mit den Augen streifst
Italiensches Liederbuch: 41. Heut Nacht erhob ich mich, um Mitternacht
Italiensches Liederbuch: 22. Ein Staendchen Euch zu bringen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 8. Nun lass uns Frieden schliessen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 19. Wir haben beide lange Zeit geschwiegen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 14. Geselle, woll'n wir uns in Kutten huellen
Italiensches Liederbuch: 18. Heb auf dein blondes Haupt
Italiensches Liederbuch: 33. Sterb' ich, so huellt in Blumen meine Glieder
Italiensches Liederbuch: 37. Wie viele Zeit verlor ich
Italiensches Liederbuch: 23. Was fuer ein Lied soll dir gesungen werden
Spanisches Liederbuch: 7. Muehvoll komm' ich und beladen
Spanisches Liederbuch: 15. Auf dem gruenen Balkon
Spanisches Liederbuch: 14. Treibe nur mit Lieben Spott
Spanisches Liederbuch: 29. Trau nicht der Liebe
Spanisches Liederbuch: 38. Sie blasen zum Abmarsch
Sechs Gedichte: 3. Biterolf (Im Lager von Akkon 1190)
Moerike-Lieder: 22. Seufzer
Moerike-Lieder: 28. Gebet
Moerike-Lieder: 23. Auf ein altes Bild
Moerike-Lieder: 32. An die Geliebte
Moerike-Lieder: 12. Verborgenheit
Moerike-Lieder: 39. Denk es, o Seele!
Moerike-Lieder: 51. Bei einer Trauung
3. Ein Stuendlein wohl vor Tag
Moerike-Lieder: 16. Elfenlied

Tracks:

Sechs Alte Weisen: 6. Wie glaenzt der helle Mond
Goethe-Lieder: 14. Cophtisches Lied 1
Eichendorff-Lieder: 2. Der Musikant
Eichendorff-Lieder: 5. Der Soldat
Eichendorff-Lieder: 9. Der Schreckenberger
Moerike-Lieder: 44. Der Feuerreiter
Drei Gedichte von Robert Reinick: 1. Gesellenlied (Kein Meister faellt)
Goethe-Lieder: 5. Mignon 1 (Heiss mich nicht reden)
Goethe-Lieder: 7. Mignon 3 (So lasst mich scheinen)
Moerike-Lieder: 29. An den Schlaf
Moerike-Lieder: 36. Liebe wohl
Spanisches Liederbuch: 30. Ach, im Maien war's
Spanisches Liederbuch: 21. Herz, verzage nicht geschwind
Moerike-Lieder: 30. Neue Liebe
Moerike-Lieder: 48. Storchenbotschaft
Spanisches Liederbuch: 32. Dereinst, dereinst, Gedanke mein
Spanisches Liederbuch: 31. Alle gingen, Herz, zur Ruh
Spanisches Liederbuch: 33. Tief im Herzen trag' ich Pein
Sechs Gedichte: 6. Zur Ruh, zur Ruh
Spanisches Liederbuch: 34. Komm, o Tod, von Nacht umgeben
Sechs Lieder fuer eine Frauenstimme: 4. Wiegenlied (Im Sommer)
Sechs Lieder fuer eine Frauenstimme: 5. Wiegenlied (Im Winter)
Moerike-Lieder: 20. Auf eine Christblume I (Tochter des Walds)
Moerike-Lieder: 24. In der Fruehe
Moerike-Lieder: 25. Schlafendes Jesuskind

Tracks:

Goethe-Lieder: 20. Sankt Nepomuks Vorabend
Goethe-Lieder: 12. Ritter Kurts Brautfahrt
Moerike-Lieder: 47. Die Geister am Mummelsee
Moerike-Lieder: 10. Fussreise
Moerike-Lieder: 43. Lied eines Verliebten
Moerike-Lieder: 25. Schlafendes Jesuskind
Moerike-Lieder: 4. Jaegerlied
Moerike-Lieder: 17. Der Gaertner
Moerike-Lieder: 50. Auftrag
Moerike-Lieder: 9. Nimmersatte Liebe
Spanisches Liederbuch: 44. Geh, Geliebter, geh jetzt!
Goethe-Lieder: 10. Der Saenger
Eichendorff-Lieder: 13. Der Scholar
Eichendorff-Lieder: 14. Der verzweifelte Liebhaber
Eichendorff-Lieder: 15. Unfall
Vier Gedichte: 1. Wo wird einst (Heine)
Vier Gedichte: 3. Sonne der Schlummerlosen
Vier Gedichte: 4. Keine gleicht von allen Schoenen
Eichendorff-Lieder: 1. Der Freund
Eichendorff-Lieder: 2. Der Musikant
Sechs Gedichte: 1. Waechterlied auf der Wartburg
Moerike-Lieder: 40. Der Jaeger
Goethe-Lieder: 32. Phaenomen
Eichendorff-Lieder: 3. Verschwiegene Liebe
Vier Gedichte: 1. Wo wird einst (Heine)
Ueber Nacht (Sturm)

Amazon.com

EMI's "society" subscription editions in the 1930s yielded a wealth of recordings long considered gramophone classics, such as the present collection of roughly half of Hugo Wolf's lieder output. Each song occupies its own specific world, due to Wolf's resourceful word setting and his avoidance of anything generic. In turn, the performers illuminate each song's felicities with effortless authority, and they avoid overpointing or enacting. Full texts and translations are included. Ernest Newman's penetrating annotations for the original 78 albums, reprinted in EMI's 1981 LP reissue, are absent. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

The Hugo Wolf Society Recordings.......2005-12-28

The songs of Hugo Wolf (1860 -- 1903)combine great attention to textual detail with closely intertwined writing for the voice and the piano. In this small form, Wolf was a master and took song in a different direction from that of Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. He wrote most of his songs in bursts of activity in five large collections, devoted to the poetry of Morike, Eichendorff, Goethe, and to collections of Spanish and Italian texts. He also composed a number of songs in shorter sets.

In the early 1930s, a young Walter Legge began a project of recording Wolf songs on a subscribtion basis to be limited to 500 sets. The recording industry was relatively new, and Wolf, then as now, too little appreciated. The result was an extensive series of recordings of issued between 1931 and 1938 consisting of 145 songs, about one-half Wolf's output, performed by fourteen singers. The Hugo Wolf Society recordings remain a high moment in the recording of song. They were remastered on LPs and, in 1998, in this 5 CD collection which includes previously unreleased selections.

The Wolf Society collection offers an unparalleled opportunity to get to know Wolf's songs performed by artists of the past that might otherwise be unfamiliar to many listeners. The performers include mezzo-soprano Elena Gerhardt, who recorded the initial volume for the society, baritones Herbert Janssen, Gerhard Husch, tenors John McCormack, Karl Erb, and Helge Roswaenge, the basses Alexander Kipnis, Frederich Schorr, and Ludwig Weber, and sopranos Alexandra Trianti, Elizabeth Rethberg, Ria Ginster, Marta Fuchs, and Tiana Lemnitz. The pianists include Conrad Bos, Gerald Moore, Michael Raucheisen, Hans Udo Muller, and Ernest Victor Wolff.

The singers perform in a variety of styles from the highly operatic to the quietly lyrical. There is a Wagnerian performance of Goethe's "Prometheus" by Friedrich Schorr with the London Symphony Orchestra -- the only track using an orchestral accompaniment. The Irish tenor John McCormack shows a more lyrical approach in his renowned performance of Goethe's poem "Ganymed". The sopranos, Alexandra Trianti, Ria Ginster, and Tiana Lemitz have light, clear, bell-like voices. I find the singers on this compilation take a much more individualized, idiosyncratic, and romantic approach to song than do their modern counterparts, who sometimes seem restrained and chaste by comparison.

Each of Wolf's great collections of songs is well-represented. Elena Gerhardt performs songs from each of Wolf's five books, with the exception of the Goethe songs. The young Alexander Kipnis gives a powerful reading of Wolf's three songs from Michaelangelo. The third CD in this collection features many songs from the Italian songbook performed by soprano Ginster, baritone Husch, and bass Kipnis together with recordings from the Spanish songbook by sopranos Rethberg and Ginster and baritone Husch. There are lovely performances by soprano Tiana Lemnitz in the previously uncollected supplementary material, which also includes several Eichendorff songs and a performance of the Goethe-song "Phanomen" by Alexander Kipnis.

There is a great amount of material in this collection, with each of the 5 CDs including in excess of 70 minutes of music. Most of Wolf's songs are highly concentrated and intense. They may prove difficult to the listener coming to them knowing only the lyricism of Schubert. I would not recommend trying to rush through this set at one or two hearings. It is best to take this music in small sections and to listen with text in hand. The compilation includes texts and translations for each of the songs together with good notes about the Wolf Society recording project. There is little discussion about Wolf or about the songs themselves.

This is an essential collection for those who love song, historical recordings, and the music of Hugo Wolf.

Robin Friedman

"Even little things can delight us.".......2003-06-02

If these six words give an approximate translation of the song "Auch kleine Dinge", then they might also describe a music lover's reaction as he makes a journey of exploration through the hundreds of little songs composed by Hugo Wolf.

Walter Legge, a very young EMI record producer in the 1930s, first made such a journey possible when he pioneered the Hugo Wolf Society and began releasing the volumes now reissued in this boxed set. Many singers were invited to participate. Legge's choice of singers was sometimes idiosyncratic. You might wonder how an Irish tenor, a Ukrainian bass and a Greek soprano were admitted to the roster. The results, however, especially in the case of the contributions of John McCormack and Alexander Kipnis, prove the sureness of his instincts.

About half Wolf's songs were made available in the original issue, between 1931 and 1938. With this reissue comes unused and hitherto unissued recordings, many by Tiana Lemnitz and Herbert Jannsen. So there is now more to discover and exploration is made easier for us in 2003 than it was in the 1930s. The remastering has improved the sound, Legge's widow Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is able to provide a perceptive introduction in an accompanying booklet, and the texts of the songs are now provided in German and English.

"Even little things can delight us.".......2003-06-02

If these six words give an approximate translation of the song titled "Auch kleine Dinge", then they might also describe a music lover's reaction as he makes a journey of exploration through the hundreds of little songs composed by Hugo Wolf.

Wolf sung by various Lieder singers.......2000-08-15

This is an extraordinary collection of Wolf songs. It is frustrating that the project was not completed, as the quality of what was recorded is so extraordinarily revelatory. My personal favourites are the Michelangelo settings sung by the bass Alexander Kipnis, although he uncharacteristically makes some textual errors. The contributions of Hüsch are numerous and thoughtfully sung, and Karl Erb, Herbert Janssen, Ludwig Weber, Rita Ginster and Marta Fuchs are all caught on extraordinary form, with accompanists of admittedly variable quality, ranging from the sublime Gerald Moore to some very interesting contributions from some accompanists who did not really capture the true essence of Lieder accompanying, which surely cannot permit the piano to be subservient to the voice!

Tracks:

Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern
Du Wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn
Erfuellet, ihr himmlischen goettlichen Flammen
Ein irdscher Glanz, wein leiblich Licht
Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten
Wie Schon Leuchtet Der Morgenstern, BWV 1: Chor: 'Wie Bin Ich Doch So Herzlich Froh' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Chor: 'Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Recitativo: 'Sie Lehren Eitel Falsche List' - Kurt Equiluz
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Aria: 'Tilg, O Gott, Die Lehren' - Paul Esswood
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Recitativo: 'Die Armen Sind Verstort' - Max Van Egmond
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Aria: 'Durchs Feuer Wird Das Silber Rein' - Kurt Equiluz
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein, BWV 2: Chor: 'Das Wollst Du, Gott, Bewahren Rein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Chor: 'Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Choral Recitativo: 'Wie Schwerlich Lasst Sich Fleisch Und... - Wiener Sangerknaben/Hans Gillesberger/Paul Esswood/Kurt Equiluz/Max Van Egmond...
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Aria: 'Empfind Ich Hollenangst Und Pein' - Max Van Egmond
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Recitativo: 'Es Mag Mir Leib Und Geist Verschmachten' - Kurt Equiluz
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Aria: 'Wenn Sorgen Auf Mich Dringen' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Hans Gillesberger/Paul Esswood
Ach Gott, Wie Manches Herzeleid, BWV 3: Chor: 'Erhalt Mein Herz Im Glauben Rein' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger

Tracks:

Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erloesen
O Schmerz, o Elend, so mich trifft
Solls ja so sein
Ach lege das Sodom der suendlichen Glieder
Hier aber tut des Heilands Hand
Ich Elender Mensch, Wer Wird Mich Erlosen, BWV 48: Aria: 'Vergibt Mir Jesus Meine Sunden' - Kurt Equiluz
Ich Elender Mensch, Wer Wird Mich Erlosen, BWV 48: Chor: 'Herr Jesu Christ, Einiger Trost' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Sinf - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria: 'Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen' - Ruud Van Der Meer
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Recitativo Ed Arioso: 'Mein Mahl Ist Zubereit'' - Ruud Van Der Meer/Peter Jelosits
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria: 'Ich Bin Herrlich, Ich Bin Schon' - Peter Jelosits
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Recitativo: 'Mein Glaube Hat Mich Selbst So Angezogen' - Peter Jelosits/Ruud Van Der Meer
Ich Geh Und Suche Mit Verlangen, BWV 49: Aria (Duetto): 'Dich Hab Ich Je Und Je Geliebet' - Peter Jelosits/Ruud Van Der Meer
Nun Ist Das Heil Und Die Kraft, BWV 50: Chor: 'Nun Ist Das Heil Und Die Kraft' - Wiener Sangerknaben/Chor Viennensis/Hans Gillesberger
Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen!' - Marianne Kweksilber
Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Recitativo: 'Wir Beten Zu Dem Tempel An' - Marianne Kweksilber
Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Hochster, Mache Deine Gute' - Marianne Kweksilber
Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Chor: 'Sei Lob Und Preis Mit Ehren' - Marianne Kweksilber
Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: 'Alleluja!' - Marianne Kweksilber

Tracks:

(Caro) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
(Alto, Tenore) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
(Soprano) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
(Basso) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
(Alto) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 100: Chor: 'Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Chor: 'Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott' - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria: 'Handle Nicht Nach Deinen Rechten' - Kurt Equiluz
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Recitativo-Chor: 'Ach! Herr Gott, Durch Die Treue Dein' - Wilhelm Wiedl
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria: 'Warum Willst Du So Zornig Sein?' - Philippe Huttenlocher
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Recitativo-Chor: 'Die Sund Hat Uns Verderbet Sehr' - Kurt Equiluz
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Aria (Duetto): 'Gedenk An Jesu Bittern Tod!' - Wilhelm Wiedl/Paul Esswood
Nimm Von Uns, Herr, Du Treuer Gott, BWV 101: Chor: 'Leit Uns Mit Deiner Rechten Hand' - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Chor: 'Herr, Deine Augen Sehen... - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Recitativo: 'Wo Ist Das Ebenbild' - Philippe Huttenlocher
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Aria: 'Weh Der Seele' - Paul Esswood
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Prima Parte: Arioso: 'Verachtest Du Den... - Philippe Huttenlocher
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Aria: 'Erschrecke Doch, Du... - Kurt Equiluz
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Recitativo: 'Beim Warten Ist... - Paul Esswood
Herr, Deine Augen Sehen Nach Dem Glauben, BWV 102, Seconda Parte: Chor: Heut Lebst Du, Heut... - Tolzer Knabenchor/Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden

Tracks:

Sinfonia
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnuegt
Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
Zedern muessen von den Winden
Nach Dir, Herr, Verlanget Mich, BWV 150: Chor: 'Meine Augen Sehen Stets Zu Dem Herrn' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
Nach Dir, Herr, Verlanget Mich, BWV 150: Chor: 'Meine Tage In Dem Leide' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Aria: 'Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt' - Sebastian Hennig
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Recitativo: 'Erfreue Dich, Mein Herz' - Max Van Egmond
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Aria: 'In Jesu Demut Kann Ich Trost' - Paul Esswood
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Recitativo: 'Du Teurer Gottessohn' - Kurt Equiluz
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt, BWV 151: Chor: 'Heut Schleusst Er Wieder Auf Die Tur' - Knabenchor Hannover/Heinz Hennig/Collegium Vocale, Gent/Philippe Herreweghe
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Con - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Aria: 'Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn' - Thomas Hampson
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Recitativo: 'Der Heiland Ist Gesetzt' - Thomas Hampson
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Aria: 'Stein, Der Uber Alle Schatze' - Christoph Wegmann
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Recitativo: 'Es Argre Sich Die Kluge Welt' - Thomas Hampson
Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152: Duetto: 'Wie Soll Ich Dich, Liebster Der Seelen, Umfassen?' - Christoph Wegmann/Thomas Hampson
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind' - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Mein Liebster Gott' - Stefan Rampf
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Furchte Dich Nicht, Ich Bin Mit Dir' - Thomas Hampson
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Du Sprichst Zwar, Lieber Gott' - Kurt Equiluz
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Und Ob Gleich Alle Teufel - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Sturmt Nur, Sturmt, Ihr Trubsalswetter' - Kurt Equiluz
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Recitativo: 'Getrost! Mein Herz, Erdulde Deinen... - Thomas Hampson
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Aria: 'Soll Ich Meinen Lebeslauf' - Stefan Rampf
Schau, Lieber Gott, Wie Meine Feind, BWV 153: Chor: 'Drum Will Ich, Weil Ich Lebe Noch' - Tolzer Knabenchor//Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden

Tracks:

Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht
Auf, Sterbliche, lasset ein Jauchzen ertoenen
So bald, als dir die Sternen hold
Es streiten, es siegen die kuenftigen Zeiten
Bedenke nur, begluecktes Land
Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Aria: 'Der Zeiten Herr Hat Viel Vergnugte Stunden' - Michael Chance
Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Recitativo: 'Hilf, Hochster, Hilf' - Michael Chance/Paul Agnew
Die Zeit, Die Tag Und Jahre Macht, BWV 134A: Chor: 'Ergetzet Auf Erden' - The Amsterdam Baroque Chor/Ton Koopman
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Recitativo: 'Durchlauchtster Leopold' - Lisa Larsson
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Guldner Sonnen Frohe Stunden' - Lisa Larsson
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Leopolds Vortrefflichkeiten' - Klaus Mertens
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Unter Seinem Purpursaum' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Recitativo: 'Durchlauchtigster, Den Anhalt Vater Nennt' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'So Schau Des Holden Tages Licht' - Lisa Larsson
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Aria: 'Dein Name Gleich Der Sonnen Geh' - Klaus Mertens
Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173A: Chor: 'Nimm Auch, Grosser Furst, Uns Auf' - Lisa Larsson/Klaus Mertens

Tracks:

Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Laudamus te
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Gratias Agimus Tibi - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Domine Deus - Angela Maria Blasi/Kurt Equiluz
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Qui Tollis - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Qui Sedes - Jadwiga Rappe
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Quoniam To Solus - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner
Mass in b, BWV 232: I. Missa: Gloria: Cum Sancto Spiritu - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

Tracks:

Singet dem Herrn ein neres Lied
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
Komm, Jesu, komm
Jesu, meine Freude
Fuerchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir
Lobet Den Herrn, Alle Heiden, BWV 230 - Stockholm Bach Chor/Anders Ohrwall

Tracks:

Fantasia et Fuga in g BWV 542
Fuga in g BWV 578
Canzona in d BWV 588
Praeludium et Fuga in h BWV 544
Praeludium et Fuga in a BWV 543
Fant in c, BWV 562 - Ton Koopman
Prld Et Fuga in C, BWV 531 - Ton Koopman
Fant in G, BWV 572 - Ton Koopman
Fant in C, BWV 570 - Ton Koopman
Passacaglia in c, BWV 582 - Ton Koopman

Tracks:

Inventio 1 BWV 772
Inventio 2 BWV 773
Inventio 3 BWV 774
Inventio 4 BWV 775
Inventio 5 BWV 776
Inventio 6 in E, BWV 777 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 7 in e, BWV 778 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 8 in F, BWV 779 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 9 in f, BWV 780 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 10 in G, BWV 781 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 11 in g, BWV 782 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 12 in A, BWV 783 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 13 in a, BWV 784 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 14 in B flat, BWV 785 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Inventio 15 in b, BWV 786 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 1 in C, BWV 787 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 2 in c, BWV 788 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 3 in D, BWV 789 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 4 in d, BWV 790 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 5 in E flat, BWV 791 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 6 in E, BWV 792 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 7 in e, BWV 793 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 8 in F, BWV 794 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 9 in f, BWV 795 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 10 in G, BWV 796 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 11 in g, BWV 797 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 12 in A, BWV 798 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 13 in a, BWV 799 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 14 in B flat, BWV 800 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Sinf 15 in b, BWV 801 - Zuzana Ruzickova

Tracks:

Prelude and Fugue in A minor: Praeludium
Prelude and Fugue in A minor: Fuga
Prelude and Fughetta in E minor: Praeludium
Prelude and Fughetta in E minor: Fuga
Prelude in G major BWV 902a
Fant And Fugue in a, BWV 904: Fant - Zuzana Ruzickova
Fant And Fugue in a, BWV 904: Fuga - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in C, BWV 924 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in D, BWV 925 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in d, BWV 926 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in F, BWV 927 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in F, BWV 928 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in g, BWV 930 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Clavier-Buchlein Vor W.F. Bach: Prld in a, BWV 931 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Prld in E, BWV 937 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Prld in C, BWV 939 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Prld in d, BWV 940 - Zuzana Ruzickova
Applicatio in C, BWV 994 - Zuzana Ruzickova

Tracks:

Suite in G minor BWV 995: Prelude
Suite in G minor BWV 995: Allemande
Suite in G minor BWV 995: Courante
Suite in G minor BWV 995: Sarabande
Suite in G minor BWV 995: Gavotte I - Gavotte II en Rondeau
Ste in g, BWV 995: Gigue - Luca Pianca
Ste in e, BWV 996: Prld (Passagio-Presto) - Michele Barchi
Ste in e, BWV 996: Allemande - Michele Barchi
Ste in e, BWV 996: Courante - Michele Barchi
Ste in e, BWV 996: Sarabande - Michele Barchi
Ste in e, BWV 996: Bourree - Michele Barchi
Ste in e, BWV 996: Gigue - Michele Barchi
Ste in c, BWV 997: Prld - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
Ste in c, BWV 997: Fuga - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
Ste in c, BWV 997: Sarabande - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca
Ste in c, BWV 997: Gigue-Double - Michele Barchi/Luca Pianca

Tracks:

Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Vivace
Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Largo, ma non tanto
Concerto for two violins BWV 1043: Allegro
Concerto BWV 1042: Allegro
Concerto BWV 1042: Adagio
Con in E, BWV 1042: Allegro Assai - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in a, BWV 1041: Allegro - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in a, BWV 1041: Andante - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in a, BWV 1041: Allegro Assai - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1056R: (Allegro) - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1056R: Largo - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1056R: Presto - Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1060R: Allegro - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1060R: Adagio - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt
Con in g, BWV 1060R: Allegro - Jurg Schaeftlein/Alice Harnoncourt

Amazon.com

The Bach renaissance--which began in earnest in the early 19th century thanks to the efforts of Felix Mendelssohn and others--inspired an endeavor of far-reaching significance. It led to the founding of the Bach Society in 1850, with the goal of gathering and publishing the composer's complete works, and thus set into motion one of the great projects of musical scholarship. That effort has continued and been refined throughout the 20th century, ultimately influencing not only our perception of how to perform early music but fundamental ideas of musical history, evolution, and reception as well.

Teldec's mammoth Bach 2000 box set represents a kind of culmination of that original attempt to come to terms with Johann Sebastian Bach's unparalleled legacy. This set brings together performances recorded over the last several decades--a small percentage of the recordings are previously unreleased--of all the extant works determined by modern scholarship to be authentic. There are also some pieces the authorship of which is still in question and a few now deemed "inauthentic" but familiarly associated with the composer. Bach was a prodigious reviser of his compositions, and alternate versions of a particular work have been included "where the changes seemed sufficiently important," such as the glorious Magnificat. No doubt manuscripts will continue to be unearthed here and there in various archives (Bach 2000 contains, for example, the "Neumeister chorales," which were rediscovered in 1984), but the set does not represent the many fragments of music that consist of just a few bars; however, there are some reconstructions of lost concertos (such as one for three violins reconstructed by Christopher Hogwood from an extant concerto for harpsichords).

Of course a truly comprehensive recorded edition of every note Bach wrote remains a utopian impossibility--about one-third of his cantatas, for example, have not survived. Even so, the dimensions of Bach 2000 are staggering. With its 12 boxes comprising 153 CDs, the set can be compressed into fewer boxes to save shelf space yet is still about ten times as long as the Ring cycle. (It should be noted that the packaging--using thin cardboard sleeves for the CDs--is distinctively unattractive.) That adds up to just under 160 hours of music--but a lifetime of discovery. Each box (grouped according to genre) contains a booklet with excellent notes on individual works and--for all the choral works--texts and translations. Tracking indexes are useful and thorough. Also included is a profusely illustrated hardbound volume of 24 Inventions, in which journalist Wolfgang Sandberger uses the composer's biography as a peg for some enigmatic and fascinating musings on the meaning of Bach today.

The presiding philosophy behind this project and its approach to musical interpretation can be largely ascribed to Nikolaus Harnoncourt, a true musical pioneer and galvanizing force of the "period performance" movement. Harnoncourt's epoch-making recordings of the sacred cantatas (using, for instance, boy sopranos and choristers according to the practice in Bach's time) with the Concentus musicus Wien and colleague Gustav Leonhardt comprise the first four volumes here (those who already own them can turn to the Bach 2000 Light edition, which contains everything sans the cantatas). These recordings--which were not remastered for this set--have long been controversial and are notably uneven, embracing some magnificent accounts as well as others that lack fire and seem clearly underrehearsed. But Harnoncourt is one of the most fascinating conductors of our era, and his interpretations amply bear out his assertion: "I have never felt that Bach worked in a routine manner, that he repeated himself in his works." Harnoncourt--who has articulated many of his ideas in his book The Musical Dialogue--displays his gifts as a cellist in a remarkably probing performance of the Cello Suites (originally recorded in 1965) and in his concertizing for a number of chamber works. For the St. Matthew Passion, you get Harnoncourt's groundbreaking earlier account from 1970, while his 1986 recording of the sublime B Minor Mass is also represented here (the St. John Passion included is Harnoncourt's 1995 acount).

Other artists included are colleague Gustav Leonhardt, whose thoughtful if occasionally dry harpsichord artistry is heard in the Goldberg Variations as well as in the concertos and chamber music. The harpsichord is in fact used throughout in preference to piano for the keyboard works. Ton Koopman (himself the conductor of an ongoing complete cantata series and of the Easter Oratorio included here) performs the organ works, including some newly recorded offerings, while Il Giardino Armonico's well-known high-energy account represents the Brandenburg Concertos. Violinist Thomas Zehetmair is exceptionally compelling in the unaccompanied sonatas and partitas, and the Concentus musicus Wien--again under Harnoncourt--perform a superb Musical Offering that richly repays frequent listening.

The result of Bach 2000 as a whole is an aptly encyclopedic grappling with the infinite legacy of this most compendious of composers, whose works are on one level a summation of all the styles available to him. Bach was once thought to represent a "terminal point" (to use Albert Schweitzer's famous formulation), the end of an era; today he is at least equally recognized as a fertile source of inspiration for composers since. To be sure, individual recordings of particular works will be found to be preferable, and it would be misguided to consider Bach 2000 any kind of "final" or "definitive" word. Instead, it's an indispensable starting point that represents a monumental achievement for our own contemporary understanding of Bach. --Thomas May

Album Description

Volume 1, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 1-14, 16-47; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt

Volume 2, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 48-52, 54-69, 69A, 70-99; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt

Volume 3, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas Nos. 100-117, 119-140,143-149; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt

Volume 4, 15 Discs
Sacred Cantatas BWV 150-159, 161-188, 192, 194-199; 15 CDs; Harnoncourt/Leonhardt

Volume 5, 11 Discs
Secular Cantatas App. Sacred Cantatas; 11 CDs; Koopman, Harnoncourt, Koopman, Goebel and others

Volume 6, 14 Discs
The Sacred Vocal Works Masses,Magnificat, Passions, Oratorios; 14 CDs; Harnoncourt, Koopman, Corboz and others

Volume 7
, 7 Discs
The Motets, Chorales & Songs Kirnberger Chorales,Schemelli Songs, Quodlibet

Volume 8, 16 Discs
The Organ Works; 16 CDs; Ton Koopman

Volume 9, 11 Discs
The Keyboard Works (I) The Well-Tempered Clavier, English & French Suites, Partitas etc; 11 CDs; Curtis, Ross, Wilson, Ruzickova

Volume 10, 11 Discs
The Keyboard Works (II) Goldberg Variations, Toccatas, Fugues, Italian Concerto, etc; 11 CDs; Staier, Barchi, Leonhardt, von Asperen, Baumont, and others

Volume 11, 13 Discs
The Chamber Music Violin Sonatas & Partitas, Flute Sonatas, Works for Lute, Art of Fugue, Musical Offering, etc; 13 CDs; Harnoncourt, Pianca, Tachezi, Brggen, Zehetmair, and others

Volume 12, 10 Discs
The Orchestral Works The Concertos & Orchestral Suite; 10 CDs; Il Giardino Armonico, Harnoncourt, Leonhardt

Customer Reviews:

Bach is priceless.......2006-11-10

I believe, as another reviewer has stated, Bach's music may be the best ever written. Also, I think the cantatas are not where Bach placed his heart and soul. He was, after all, employed as a canter and in a position he did not wish for, but was forced to take to feed his large family. (I recommend "Bach and the High Baroque" lecture series by TTC.) What really stands out on this collection are all works in volumes 8 and above. Some of these works are hard to find and having them all in this collection and preformed on original instruments is great. Bach is priceless and so then is this collection.

Buy the works you like...........2006-01-11

If you love Bach, which you must if you are looking at this particular item, you probably own a couple of his works already. Perhaps some of them are on the Teldec label. There is nothing wrong with Teldec if you are just getting into "classical" music. You will probably enjoy the music thoroughly. I know I did, as one of the first "classical" releases I bought was on Teldec, and it was Bach. I was amazed how great Bach was. Then my brother showed me the same recording, performed by another group, on another label. It had a lot more passion, and the instrumentalists were obviously of a higher level. Pardon my rambling, but what I'm trying to say is, the recordings found in this boxset are not the "cream of the crop." They are perfectly acceptable, easily listenable renditions of what many consider the greatest music...EVER. Take it from me, someone who has leapt into boxset land one too many times: Save your money, buy the individual albums. Take your time, talk to record store clerks (read Amazon reviews), do your research. If you are lucky enough to have a decent record store around, listen to multiple versions of the same work. No one said you had to buy it all at once. It can take a lifetime to fully realize the potency of this music, so enjoy the discovery as long as possible.

Poor Bach.......2005-11-26

In Antony & Cleopatra, Shakespeare wrote: "I shall see some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness...."

I am 99% in favor of original instrument performances, but there are limits. Just imagine if we had the same sort of thing going on with Shakespeare's plays -- men and boys playing all of the women's parts. And if we *really* wanted to be original, they would be squeaking boys "I' th' posture of a whore" (Shakespeare's words). Such performances would knock Monty Python
right out of business.

The Cantatas, which are the lion's share of this collection, are sung by boys, boys, boys. If you want to ruin boy choirs for yourself, then go for it. It might still be a novelty by the fifth CD but by the fiftieth, you will want to throw your &*%$ wig at the squeaking speakers, just as the exasperated Bach famously did with his own wig and his own boy choir. (For which he was reprimanded.)

Does Harnoncourt really, honestly think that Bach would have picked a boy choir if he could have had women? Does anyone seriously believe that Shakespeare would have preferred his parts played by boys instead of women?

If you buy this set, don't buy it for the Cantatas, unless (unlike Bach) you can tolerate immature voices with "wig-tossingly" inconsistent intonation. Hold out for Suzuki or Koopman. Stay away from the Rifkin perfomances, mostly because the recording quality is second and third rate by today's standards. Not that historical performances should be shunned, but you might want to think twice about 60 odd CDs worth of second rate sound.

A Treasure Trove.......2004-03-07

This set is the culmination of several decades of work on the part of the West German record label Teldec (formerly known as Telefunken-Decca). With their early-music subdivision Das Alte Werk (similar to DG's Archiv or Decca's L'Oiseau-Lyre), Teldec have been in the forefront of exploring the world of period instruments and authentic performance practice, with special emphasis on the works of J.S.Bach. The lion's share of recordings here was originally made for Das Alte Werk, with the odd exception here and there licensed from other labels in order to fill in the gaps. The centerpiece of the set is the famous recording of the 199 church cantatas by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustav Leonhardt. If you're not familiar with the cantatas, there's a whole world of drama, color and expression right here waiting for you. You'll also be surprised to learn how many of the "tunes" you know from popular arrangements, like "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Sleepers Awake" are actually movements from cantatas. The names of Harnoncourt and Leonhardt pop up again and again; they were both mainstays of the Teldec roster. Leonhardt gives us his 1965 Goldberg Variations on a Dulcken harpsichord whose every tone is like a bell, and Harnoncourt's "home" recording of the Cello Suites (never intended for general release) shows the ferment of a great musical mind. Ton Koopman gives us his provocative and controversial re-thinkings of the organ works, and Thomas Zehetmair's performances of the unaccompanied violin sonatas and partitas are like dramatic scenes spoken by a solo violin. Here are the uniquely bizarre Brandenburg Concertos by Il Giardino Armonico; the rhetorical and transparent performance of the motets conducted by Harnoncourt (perhaps his best-ever recording); Leonhardt's relaxed and smiling versions of the harpsichord concertos; Alice Harnoncourt's tawny, leonine performances of the sonatas for violin and harpsichord; Harnoncourt's chiaroscuro-filled performance of the Christmas Oratorio, and so on. This set is one of the most worthwhile CD buys you could make. You will never be bored with this to dip into over the years.

147 out of 153 ain't bad!.......2001-04-29

Having listened to the complete set, I can confidently recommend it, if you would use a complete set of Bach's works.

If you really like Bach, it is well worth getting. You will read disparaging reviews which will tell you that there are better performances of individual works. But this is a great opportunity for a Bach lover to get very good versions of his entire oeuvre.

In the set of 60 CDs of sacred cantatas, there are about 6 duds, which feature out of tune boy sopranos! If you are not crazy about sacred cantatas, you can buy a set which omits them, which may be advised!

I love the version of the Mass in B minor, though it is very different from our set by Munchinger [which we really enjoy].

The Brandenburgs are great. THe first movement of the first concerto is a knock out! Very brassy and bombastic: quite different from the 3 or 4 other versions I have previously enjoyed.

We are a piano family and have many CDs of Bach keyboard works played on piano [though we also have the Well Tempered Clavier on harpsichord and clavichord] The keyboard performances in the set are all on harpsichord and are lively and very enjoyable.

It takes some getting used to the authentic Baroque flute performances: especially occasional out-of-tuneness. But these are also interesting and musically played.

Customer Reviews:

The Essential Coloratura Album.......2007-02-16

The artistry of Rita Streich presented in this multi-disc set represents an art that in all likelihood would not return: the Viennese school of coloratura and lyrical singing.
Together with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rita Streich studied voice with Maria Ivogun, a great coloratura soprano of the German-Austro school. Together with her colleague, Streich excelled in the Viennese-style coloratura singing. This album presents her wide range of repertoire from Austro-German to French to Italian opera; from classical opera to romantic Strauss operetta; from lieder to folk songs.
What this album does NOT include is Streich's Russian repertoire, some thing that, owing to her maternal descent, she was most adept at.
Unlike Schwarzkopf, Streich owned a voice that is out-right lyrical. It is even lighter, even more agile, even more silvery, though not as forceful as Schwarzkopf's on demand. Listen to her delightful "Bastien und Bastienne", her Mozart concert arias and enjoy her highly articulated, musically refined delivery. It is the exemplary Viennese singing. Her soubrettes as well as lyrical heroines are nothing short of being superb.
Not being as internationalised a singer as Schwarzkopf, Streich nonetheless was a representative figure of Viennese coloratura singing. Some times I would even feel that her coloratura is even more superior to that of the great dramatic coloratura of the 20th century, Joan Sutherland, again a very much more internationalised singer than Streich.
If you are undergoing voice training, this box set is essential.

Average customer rating:

Live Schwarzkopf
If Soprano Music Is Getting Right ino Your Nerve

Liederabend

Manufacturer: Aura Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000JHM5
Release Date: 1999-08-31

Customer Reviews:

Live Schwarzkopf.......2003-06-23

She practised, fretted, and re-recorded for her performances for EMI produced by her husband until the Voice became fettered. To her, and many of her listeners, they were perfect: each word modulated, dissected. To others, they were not: "mannered and arche" were often used to describe her performance by her haters.

This recording of a live performance is a treasure. Her voice fresh and a sense of spontaniety. Even her critics would yield to her this one time.

If Soprano Music Is Getting Right ino Your Nerve.......2003-03-03

Then try Schwarzkopf. She is soothing. She was the one who made Furtwangler forsake his baton for a moment, sitting fairly and squarely at the piano when she sang; she was the one who caught, strangely enough, even the ears and admiration of the loneliest musician of the century, Glenn Gould.

The recording is very nice and the equilibrium between the piano and the singer is superb. And Schwarzkopf was obviously still at her best. Well, if Callas is more dramatic, Schwarzkopf is more lyrical.

Customer Reviews:

A missable item among the riches of the Schwarzkopf catalog.......2006-03-20

Since this double-CD is long out of print, I suppose there's not much value in criticizing it in detail. EMI has released dozens of lieder and opera recordings with their preeminent star, including great live concerts from Salzburg with Gerald Moore from this period in the mid-Fifties.

Compared to Moore and Edwin Fischer, by far her best accompanist, George Reeves is stiff and unimaginative, not to mention that the paino sounds thin and clattery. Schwarzkopf recorded every song here in at least one and often multiple versions that are much better. Unless you want a souvenir of Schwarzkopf live in New York, this set is a miss.

A complete Schwarzkopf lieder recital........2003-09-07

Lieder recitals featured prominently in the career of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Not many were recorded in their entirety, however, announced encores and all, or approved for issue. This double CD offers an opportunity to hear her in her prime, recorded in Carnegie Hall, New York, 25th November 1956.

With George Reeves, who brings vast experience and plenty of personality to the piano accompanying, Schwarzkopf delivers a succession of her favorite items, none too demanding (apart from an operatic aria) and all enthusiastically applauded by the audience. One or two of the Schubert strophic songs are given interesting dynamic "interpretative" presentations, not attempted in her studio recorded versions. After a bracket of Mozart lieder, Schwarzkopf announces that she has received many requests for the inclusion of an operatic aria. She provides one of Fjordiligi's arias from "Cosi fan tutte", coping wonderfully well with its many difficulties.