J.S. Bach/Prohaska (Vanguard) Cantatas BWV 78, 106

Aravind Ayyar wrote (September 3, 2003):
I saw this disc at a used record shop nearby. I haven't heard either work before. Should I buy the CD, or discover these works with another interpreter? HIP, Non-HIP, I have no strong preferences regarding style of approach.

Many thanks in advance.

Aryeh Oron wrote (September 3, 2003):
[To Aravind Ayyar] You can find a lot of information about Bach Cantatas & his other vocal works at the Bach Cantatas Website (BCW): http://www.bach-cantatas.com

The BCW is a comprehensive site covering all aspects of J.S. Bach's cantatas and his other vocal works. Contains discussions and detailed discographies of each cantata and other vocal works, performers and general topics. The site also includes texts and translations, scores, music examples, articles and interviews, and short biographies of about 1,500 performers of Bach vocal works (singers, conductors, vocal and instrumental groups). There are also other relevant resources such as a discussion of the Lutheran church year, reviews and discussions of Bach's Instrumental Works, terms and abbreviations, schedule of concerts of Bach's vocal works, hundreds of links to other relevant resources. The site is an international collective project, being compiled from various postings about the subject, most of which have been sent to the Bach Cantatas Mailing List.

The best place to discuss such topics is the Bach Cantatas Mailing List (BCML). If you are not yet subscribed, go to the following page: http://www.mcelhearn.com/bach.html and follow the simple instructions.

Mazzolata wrote (September 3, 2003):
[To Aravind Ayyar] There is a really excellent Gardiner version of BWV 106 with BWV 198 (the great "Lass, Furstin") and the Motet BWV 118b. I highly recommend it. The only version of BWV 78 I've heard is Herreweghe's, and I wasn't really taken by it. That is coupled with his version of BWV 198, which IMO is inferior to Gardiner's.

Philip wrote (September 3, 2003):
[To Aravind Ayyar] It's non-HIP and before HIP. I like Prohaska's cantata recordings a lot. BWV 78 has Roessl-Majdan, Equiluz and Berry, BWV 106 Stich-Randall, Dermota and Braun, vintage singers all in their prime. Prohaska recorded many more Bach cantatas, I'm not sure whether all made it to CD.

Allen Tyler wrote (September 4, 2003):
[To Philip] I've enjoyed, over the years, many of the Prohaska LPs, including several cantatas. I wish I still had his Brandenburg set, which Vanguard issued on three LPs (but priced as two), thereby avoiding splitting any of the concerti between sides. It may have been pre-HIP, but the group included Gustav Leonhardt and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, along with others whose names I cannot recall. He used the high-pitched trumpet (E-flat? soprano? What's the correct name?) in No. 2, which, as I recall, wasn't exactly common in those days (mid-1950s). My biggest complaint is that I have never been able to find out anything at all about Prohaska.

Mark Melson wrote (September 4, 2003):
[To Allen Tyler] I have enjoyed Prohaska's clean, propulsive "Jupiter" Symphony on Vanguard since my high school years 35 years ago. The jacket of my early-60s LP calls Prohaska "conductor and director"of the Frankfurt Opera and"one of the principal conductors" of the Vienna State Opera.

Riccardo Nughes wrote (September 4, 2003):
< Allen Tyler wrote: I've enjoyed, over the years, many of the Prohaska LPs, including several cantatas. I wish I still had his Brandenburg set, which Vanguard issued on three LPs (but priced as two), thereby avoiding splitting any of the concerti between sides. It may have been pre-HIP, but the group included Gustav Leonhardt and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, along with others whose names I cannot recall. >
I knew N. Harnoncourt was involved, are you sure about Gustav Leonhardt?

< My biggest complaint is that I have never been able to find out anything at all about Prohaska. >
The Brandenburgs and the Orchestral Suites directed by Prohaska are now available in the new reissues of Vanguard Recordings.
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CABBC/
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CABBE/

As regards Prohaska you can find a short biography here :
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Prohaska-Felix.htm

Allen Tyler wrote (September 4, 2003):
< Riccardo Nughes wrote: I knew N. Harnoncourt was involved, are you sure about Gustav Leonhardt? >
Almost certain, but it has been at least 15 years, probably longer, since I last saw that set. I got rid of too many LPs, it seems. I remember one other name in the group--Paul Angerer, who hasn't achieved the recognition of some of the others. I wish I knew who played trumpet.

< The Brandenburgs and the Orchestral Suites directed by Prohaska are now available in the new reissues of Vanguard Recordings.
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CABBC/ >
I must investigate this! My memory may be exaggerating the quality of these performances, but I would like to make sure.

< As regards Prohaska you can find a short biography here :
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Prohaska-Felix.htm >
Thanks for that. I gave up and quit checking long ago, before Google, etc. I had found references to Carl and to a 19^th century performeer, but nothing on Felix, whose recordings introduced me to some great music when I was 50 years younger than I am now. Time flies like the wind--fruit flies like bananas, as they say.

Rodger Whitlock wrote (September 5, 2003):
[To Allen Tyler] The trumpeter may have been Helmut Wobisch.

Thomas Wood wrote (September 5, 2003):
[To Rodger Whitlock] The 2^nd Brandenburg is written for a clarino trumpet in F -- which wasn't common in Bach's day, much less the 1950s.

Pablo Casals recorded the piece with the part played by a soprano sax....

Matthew B. Tepper wrote (September 5, 2003):
[To Rodger Whitlock] Did he ever BI that DRUM?

David Wesolowicz wrote (September 5, 2003):
[To Matthew B. Tepper] I caught that – lol

Felix Prohaska: Short Biography | Recordings | General Discussions