Charles Francis wrote (January 2, 2001):
PLEASE, LET'S TALK ABOUT J.S. BACH!

Wouter Verhoog
koover@planet.nl
The Netherlands

The Hilliard Ensemble will have a half hour spot at the Erlöser church in Munich, 6^th January at 20:00. David James, their countertenor, told me they perform two Bach cantatas BWV 4 and BWV 118. The rest of the concert will be with the Munich Chamber Orchestra who perform Webern. If anyone want to try for a ticket they might contact Frau Grätzel +49 89 636 359, Fax +49 89 280 171.

Both the Munich Chamber Orchestra and the Hilliard Ensemble work with the ECM label and a recording session is taking place in connection with this concert (hence the rather incongruous concert program). BWV 4, "Christ lag in Todes Banden" is expected to last 25 minutes while BWV 118 "O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht" will last around 8 minutes.

Matthew Westphal wrote (January 3, 2001):
< Charles Francis wrote: The Hilliard Ensemble will have a half hour spot at the Erlöser church in Munich, 6^th January at 20:00. David James, their countertenor, told me they perform two Bach cantatas BWV 4 and BWV 118. The rest of the concert will be with the Munich Chamber Orchestra who perform Webern. >
Thanks for posting this, Charles.

Will David James be singing the top part? Or has the Hilliard Ensemble taken on a soprano for this occasion (and if so, who is he or she)?

Charles Francis wrote (January 4, 2001):
(To Matthew Westphal) I understand they sing One Voice Per Part and that David James is participating. As you know, there are two post-HIP BWV 4 recordings out there - Parrott with Emily Van Evera (soprano) and Cantus Cölln with Johanna Koslowski (soprano). A performance with David James (counter-tenor) will certainly be something new.

Job J.M. Baar wrote (January 7, 2001):
(To Charles Francis) Don't know if you've ever heard the Hilliard Ensemble in concert, but they sound wonderful!

I have had occasion to hear them perform Bach and other music in two or three concerts and those were memorable!

On a related issue: years ago I purchased a recording (on LP) of the Hilliard Ensemble performing Bach's motets, which I still enjoy very much. Anyone out there aware of this recording ever having been (re)issued on CD?

Jan Hoving wrote (January 7, 2001):
< Job J.M. Baar wrote: On a related issue: years ago I purchased a recording (on LP) of the Hilliard Ensemble performing Bach's motets, which I still enjoy very much. Anyone out there aware of this recording ever having been (re)issued on CD? >
The Gramophone Classical Catalogue makes no mention of it. So I don't think it's been reissued on CD yet.

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