Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year - Vol. 13
Easter Oratorio "Kommt, eilet und laufet ihr flüchtigen Füße"
BWV 249 [43:23]
"Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden" BWV 6 [17:13]
Yeree Suh (soprano); Petra Noskaiová (alto); Christoph Genz (tenor);
Jan Van der Crabben (bass)
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken
rec. 23-27 April 2009, Academiezall Sint-Truiden, Belgium. stereo/surround.
DDD/DSD
ACCENT ACC 25313 [59:36]
Sigiswald Kuijken is coming to the end of his Bach pilgrimage. It has taken
in one cantata for each Sunday of the liturgical year over a five year period.
He hasn't quite managed the same high profile as Gardiner or Suzuki in their
similar projects, nor indeed has Kuijken achieved the same uniformly high
standards as those eminent conductors. His is a more idiosyncratic cycle,
and I have had some reservations about the previous instalments. Each disc
is recorded in superior SACD audio, but the precision of the engineering is
not always matched by the performing style of the orchestra. The sound has
often been merciless in highlighting suspect tuning in the strings and occasional
balance problems.
That dichotomy is evident on this disc, of cantatas for Easter Sunday and
Monday, with the tight focus of the engineering often at odds with the laid-back
style of the performance. Fortunately, the technical side of the playing here
stands up to the forensic scrutiny of the audio, which finds little wanting.
On one occasion there is some loud rattling of woodwind keys, which, considering
we are talking about baroque instruments, can only be coming from the bassoon.
One of the arias is accompanied by a tenor/bass string instrument, which the
orchestra list suggests is Kuijken himself on the violoncello da spalla; an
exotic choice of instrument but not a particularly pleasant sound.
Otherwise, the timbres and textures are all very pleasing and easy on the
ear. This might be explained by the fact that both of these cantatas, and
BWV249 in particular, emphasise the wind over the strings in most of their
movements. The woodwind playing is very good indeed. The players are just
as relaxed in their style as the strings, or at least give that impression
while playing with both precision and passion. Both recorder and flute are
used, the one player alternating, and both give elegant woody colours. The
three trumpeters manage to combine flair and restraint to a degree that is
all too rare. It is also worth mentioning that they play "fully natural" trumpets
- without vent holes. That's usually a recipe for some dodgy tuning, but all
the trumpet lines here are spot-on.
As ever, Kuijken works in one-to-a-part mode with no choir. Joshua Rifkin
would, no doubt approve, but the four soloists have to work hard to give these
boisterous scores their due. The first chorus of the Easter Oratorio (Kommt,
eilet und laufet ihr flüchtigen) in particular sounds to me like
a work for large choir, and while the singers give us the contrapuntal lines
with valuable clarity, the chamber textures seem at odds with the spirit of
the score.
No such concerns with the solo movements though, and each of the singers really
makes the most of their various moments to shine. Alto Petra Noskaiová
and bass Jan Van der Crabben are both competent purveyors of the Bach's solo
lines. Neither excels, but the evenness of their singing has a value in itself.
In particular, the fact that Crabben sounds equally at home in every part
of Bach's bass register is an asset, and sets him apart from the bass soloists
in other recent Bach cantata cycles. But both are outclassed by soprano Yeree
Suh and tenor Christoph Genz, who put in some very special contributions.
Genz demonstrates that you don't need to be in the very highest register to
be a characterful and passionate tenor. Suh has an extraordinary voice, very
pure and uncomplicated. She often sounds like a boy treble, and her sound
might provide some welcome nostalgia for those who fondly remember the days
when these top lines were always taken by boys' voices.
Sigiswald Kuijken has his fair share of admirers, who are likely to find much
of this recording very much to their taste. The woodwind playing and the soprano
and tenor arias in particular are up to the highest standards of this cycle.
But, as with previous instalments, it is a mixed bag, and not everything hits
the mark. That is a consequence, I suppose, of Kuijken's easy-going approach,
which at its best combines spontaneity with a sense of intimacy that fully
justifies the use of a minuscule ensemble (a Petite Bande indeed). Personally,
I'd go for Suzuki or Gardiner every time, but if you find their readings too
regimented and too detail-focused, then Kuijken might just be the man for
you.
Gavin Dixon
At its best this combines spontaneity with a sense of intimacy.