Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Pergolesi
Performer: Kathleen Ferrier, Eric Greene, Elsie Suddaby, Henry Cummings, Joan Taylor, The Bach Choir, The Nottingham Oriana Choir
Orchestra: The Jacques Orchestra, The Boyd Neel String Orchestra
Conductor: Dr Reginald Jacques, Roy Henderson
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Dutton
Catalogue: 2CDAX2005
Release: 1999
Size: 900 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
01. Come Ye Daughters
02. When Jesus Had Finished
03. O Blessed Jesu
04. Then Assembled Together, Not Upon the Feast
05. Now When Jesus Was in Bethany, to What Purpose Is This Waste
06. When Jesus Understood It
07. My Master and My Lord
08. Grief for Sin
09. Break in Grief
10. Now the First Day; Where, Where; and He Said, Go into the City
11. ’tis I Whose Sin Doth Bind Thee
12. and He Answered and Said
13. Although Our Eyes with Tears O’erflow
14. Jesus, Saviour
15. and After They Had Sung a Hymn
16. Peter Answered and Said
17. Here Would I Stand Beside Thee
18. Then Cometh Jesus
19. O Grief
20. I Would Beside My Lord
21. and He Went a Little Further
22. the Saviour, Low Before His Father Bending
23. Gladly Would I Take
24. and He Cometh Unto the Disciples
25. O Father Let Thy Will Be Done
26. and He Came and Found Them Asleep Again
27. Behold My Saviour Now Is Taken; and Behold One of Them
28. O Man, Thy Grievous Sin
29. Ah! Now Is My Saviour Gone
30. and They That Had Laid Hold
31. How Falsely Doth the World Accuse!
32. Yea Though Many False Witnesses
33. He Holds His Peace
34. Endure, Endure; and the High Priest Answered
35. Then Did They Spit in His Face
36. O Lord, Who Dares to Smite Thee
37. Now Peter Sat Without in the Palace
38. Then He Began to Curse
39. Have Mercy, Lord, on Me
40. Lamb of God
41. When the Morning Was Come; and He Cast Down the Pieces of Silver
42. Give, O Give Me Back My Lord
43. Commit Thy Way to Jesus
44. Now at That Feast
45. O Wondrous Love
46. and the Governor Said
47. to All Men Jesus
48. for Love My Saviour
49. but They Cried out
50. O Gracious God
51. If My Tears Be Unavailing (Pt. 1)
52. Then the Soldiers
53. O Sacred Head
54. and After They Had Mocked Him
55. and When They Were Come; the Thieves Also Which Were Crucified
56. Ah Golgotha!
57. See the Saviour’s Outstretched Hands
58. Now from the Sixth Hour
59. Be Near Me Lord
60. and Behold the Veil of the Temple
61. at Evening Hour of Calm and Peace
62. Make Thee Clean, My Heart
63. and When Joseph
64. and Now the Lord
65. in Tears of Grief
66. If My Tears Be Unavailing (Pt. 2)
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater
67. I. Mater Dolorosa
68. II. Animam Gementem
69. III. O Quam Tristis Et Afflicta
70. IV. Quae Morebat Et Dolebat
71. V. Quis Est Homo Qui Non Fleret
72. VI. Pro Peccatis
73. VII. Vidit Suum Dulcem Natum
74. VIII. Eia, Mater, Fons Amoris
75. IX. Fac Ut Ardeat Cor Meum
76. X. Sancta Mater
77. XI. Fac, Ut Portem Christi Mortem
78. XII. Inflammatus Et Accensus
79. XIII. Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen
We have been left all too few recordings of Kathleen Ferrier’s inimitable voice but this outstanding complete English version of Bach’s greatest passion is indeed a treasure-trove. It personifies the style and traditions of a past age in Bach performance and is also a tribute to Dr Reginald Jacques who was bold enough to perform and record the first complete version of this work. The soloists were also deeply steeped in English pre-war choral tradition so the performance is another worthy window on the past in different ways. There is also a certain hallowed air about this recording, a sense of discovery and sacred affection for the music that only arises from spontaneity.
Most period-performance purists will definitely rule this re-issue out-of-court for its solemn pondering and clearly embellished scoring, but to my mind no recording of this ubiquitous Passion comes closer to the heart of Bach’s divine conception. Ferrier is simply outstanding in the title role, her vocal declamation and fiery portrayal of the anguish and suffering that she herself was to experience is chillingly convincing. She is matched however by an outstanding team of soloists, all of which are in direct or close contact with her heart-rending agonizations. None is more convincing than Elsie Suddaby, a deeply committed and authoritative Bachian interpreter.
She is more than a match for Jacques’ ponderous tempi and her shaping and inflexion in her many arias are shatteringly spiritual and inspired. Alan Blyth rightly singles her out for praise in his booklet essay. Blyth also recalls the nostalgic effect that Eric Greene and Henry Cummings used to have in their innumerable performances of this Passion at Eastertide in years gone by. Both artists are completely at one with the various tragic musical permutations and their lifelong experience of singing this magnificent work is never in doubt. I cannot praise the wonderful singing of the Bach Choir too highly, such is their rapt spirituality and alert attendance to all matters choral. This was indeed an ensemble trained to the highest standards of artistic perfection by their inspired conductor and leader.
I have already muted the point that the old-fashioned portamentos and melodic shaping by the Jacques Orchestra can tend to be slightly boorish, but there is no doubt of their affection for the piece. In many ways, this recording reminds me of Sargent”s outstanding 1946 ”Messiah”; a similarly no-holds-barred traditionalist performance with unashamed use of a full orchestra and handpicked choir, a companion piece if there ever was any. The English text may be a deterrent for the purists, but it certainly helped me to understand the work better. As if this was not enough, Dutton have resurrected another legendary performance in the shape of a rare Pergolesi ”Stabat Mater” recorded in 1946.
This time Ferrier is accompanied with outstanding dignity and persuasiveness by Roy Henderson and the Boyd Neel strings, an underrated conductor who was especially good in small-scale baroque works. Indeed his conducting contains some controversial tempi, that work to the increase of excitement and effect of this undeniably awe-inspiring composition. Joan Taylor is the accompanying soloist and she is the ideal partner to Ferrier’s distinguished voice, here in full maturity and prime.
Dutton are offering this 3-disc set at the price of two and this added incentive makes for a wholehearted recommendation. As a parting note, it would be appropriate to praise the fine sound secured by Kenneth Wilkinson and Victor Olof, both giants of their time and representatives of the golden age of Decca recordings. An outstanding memorial of Kathleen Ferrier, one of those select group of legends ‘whom the Gods love’.