Discussions in the Week of September 5, 2004

Neil Halliday wrote (September 1, 2004):
SJP aria: "Es ist vollbracht" [Mvt. 30]

Rilling's performance, with Hamari, of this 'molto adagio' aria (scored for alto voice, solo viola da gamba, and continuo), uses lute instead of the more usual organ, in the continuo.

The resulting intimate and calm mood beautifully captures the knowing understanding of Jesus' last words in John's gospel, "It is finished" (words which are in stark contrast to the apparent despair of Jesus' last words in Matthew's gospel).

Hamari is magnificent, and the 'agitated' middle section shows Rilling's usual instrumental clarity, including 'revealing' the trills in the strings.

Juozas Rimas wrote (September 2, 2004):
Neil Halliday wrote: < Rilling's performance, with Hamari, of this 'molto adagio' aria (scored for alto voice, solo viola da gamba, and continuo), uses lute instead of the more usual organ, in the continuo. >
Herreweghe (1987) also apparently uses lute. A better choice of the instrument for its intimacy. The singer is Catherine Patriasz, possessing (at least in the particular performance of "Es ist vollbracht") the warmest female voice I've ever heard. I'd like that ALL arias would be sung by her in some cycle. It's a pity the way is blocked for her by more infuential male singers that seem to monopolize the alto range...

I haven't heard Hamari in this aria yet, but I found her to be one of the best alto voices, eg in the alto aria from BWV 42 "Am Abend...". Rillings instrumentation is also superior to me, compared with other versions I've heard, eg Koopman's. Even oboes are better and clearer there, although I'm used to excellent oboes in Koopman's and Herreweghe's recordings.

So, with Patriasz and von Otter being unprolific, the best alto quality in larger quantities is provided by Hamari, and Rilling's recordings should be sought for at least for her.

Johannes-Passion BWV 245: Details
Recordings: Until 1960 | 1961-1970 | 1971-1980 | 1981-1990 | 1991-2000 | From 2001 | Sung in English | Individual Movements
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Systematic Discussions: Part 1: Mvts. 1-7 | Part 2: Mvts. 6-14 | Part 3: Mvts. 15-20 | Part 4: Mvts. 21-26 | Part 5: Mvts. 27-32 | Part 6: Mvts. 36-40 | Part 7: Summary
Individual Recordings: BWV 245 - Brüggen | BWV 245 - Cleobury | BWV 245 – Dombrecht | BWV 245 - Fasolis | BWV 245 - Gardiner | BWV 245 - Harnoncourt-Gillesberger | BWV 245 – Herreweghe | BWV 245 - Higginbottom | BWV 245 – Jochum | BWV 245 – Leusink | BWV 245 - McCreesh | BWV 245 - Neumann | BWV 245 - Parrott | BWV 245 - Richter | BWV 245 – Schreier | BWV 245 – Shaw | BWV 245 - Suzuki
Articles: Saint John Passion, BWV 245 (by Teri Noel Towe)