Performer: The Hilliard Ensemble
Orchestra: Munich Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Christoph Poppen
Composer: Anton Webern, Johann Sebastian Bach
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Ecm Records
Size: 246 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Musical Offering, BWV 1079 – Transcription: Anton Webern – Fuga (Ricercata) a 6 voci
02. String Quartet (1905) – Orchestrated by Christoph Poppen – String Quartet (1905)
03. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 1. Sinfonia – Versus 1: Coro
04. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 2. Versus 2: Duetto (Soprano, Alto)
05. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 3. Versus 3: Aria (Tenore)
06. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 4. Versus 4: Coro
07. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 5. Versus 5: Aria (Basso)
08. Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, BWV 4 – 6. Versus 6: Duetto (Soprano, Tenore) – Versus 7: Choral
09. 5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5 – 1. Heftig bewegt
10. 5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5 – 2. Sehr langsam
11. 5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5 – 3. Sehr lebhaft
12. 5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5 – 4. Sehr langsam
13. 5 Movements for String Quartet, Op.5 – 5. In zarter Bewegung
14. Musical Offering, BWV 1079 – Transcription: Anton Webern – Fuga (Ricercata) a 6 voci
Bach and Webern: centuries apart in time, contiguous in nature
RICERCAR – an elaborate polyphonic composition making extensive use of contrapuntal imitation and usually very slow in tempo – is an fitting title for this performance of the works of JS Bach and those of Anton Webern, for many as antithetical a pairing of composers as could be imagined. But the influence of Bach on Webern is significant: centuries apart they both were fascinated with counterpoint and in many ways each developed a musical language that would outlast them for may years.
ECM has programed a fascinating and thought provoking recital in comparing and contrasting the works of Bach and Webern on this wholly satisfying recording. Christoph Poppen is the fine conductor of the Munich Chamber Orchestra and his performances of these disparate and yet complementary works is solidly professional. He opens and closes the recital with Webern’s transcription of Bach’s The Musical Offering Ricercar and in between he offers the shimmering orchestration of Webern’s 1905 String Quartet – one of the finest works on this near perfect program. For Bach devotees Poppen conducts a performance of Bach’s ‘Christ lag in Todes Banden’ electing to use the Hilliard Ensemble (four voices only) as the ‘chorus’ and soloists, wisely adding the fine soprano Monika Mauch to enhance the color. It is intimate and deeply moving.
Webern’s five movements for string quartet (Opus 5) are presented in his orchestral transcription, again with the same degree of sensitivity and depth of understanding as in the other Webern piece. There is much more of Webern’s variety of tempi and dynamics and outbursts of color in this work. And the recital closes where it begins – with The Musical Offering of Bach – the ricercar as transformed by Webern in homage to the Master. This is subtle and completely satisfying programming on the part of Christoph Poppen, an intellectually satisfying selection as well as a performance of great beauty. Grady Harp
thank you!!