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SMP by Georg Solti
Thomas Boyce wrote (July 19, 2000):
I was given St. Matthew Passion as a gift, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Te Kanawa, von Otter, Rolfe Johnson, Tom Krause, etc.
Fantastic piece of music, of course. But I have a feeling that there are better performances around. If anyone would like to list his or her favorites, I'd really appreciate it.
Harry Steinman wrote (July 17, 2000):I like Gardiner's recording a lot (Archiv 427 648-2)...and I've just received the recording by Hermann Max and the Rheinische Kantorei (Capriccio, 60 046-2) and it's wonderful. I don't remember who on this list (or the cantata list) raved about it, but I decided to try it and I'm not a bit sorry. Good pacing (for me, that means up-tempo) good recording, great soloists, excellent notes in the accompanying booklet...a good buy, about $21 from HB direct. I also recently acquired the Klemperer recording (EMI D 212055), which has great soloists like Fischer-Dieskau, Schwarzkopf, Gedda, and also Peter Pears, Christa Ludwig and Walter Berry. My ONLY hesitation on the Klemperer recording is the pace, which for me, is way too slow (personal preference...I like faster than slower). The Klemperer is about 223 minutes v. the Max recording at 153 minutes and Gardiner is 157 minutes.
I also have the Leusink version on Brilliant Classics (the so-called 'Kruidvat' series) but I don't listen to it often in the face of all the others.
Donald Satz wrote (July 19, 2000):
I'm partial to the two Herreweghe versions on Harmonia Mundi. I think he has an uncanny affinity to this work, which shows immediately from the start with the instrumental section ushering in Christ's trek to his crucifixion. It's very powerful and continues that way.
I have the Gardiner but don't appreciate it as much as Harry does. I feel it's "light" compared to Herreweghe. I am intrigued with the Max set; I've only heard good things, and other recordings I have with Max at the helm have been very rewarding.
Philip Peters wrote (July 20, 2000):
< Harry Steinman wrote: I also have the Leusink version on Brilliant Classics (the so-called 'Kruidvat' series) but I don't listen to it often in the face of all the others. >
In that case you have a real collector's item...there is no Leusink SMP. In the Kruidvat-Brilliant Classics Bach Edition the SMP is by Cleobury featuring Kirkby, Chance, Michael George a.o. It's not bad and Michael Chance still had a voice back then... I think there may be another SMP on Brilliant Classics which is by Goodwin, rather good IMO, with Nancy Argenta and Steven Varcoe in good form. If anybody can tell me which orchestra is used on the latter one I'd be grateful, as it doesn't say so on the cover and there is no booklet. Moreover, I happened to see this very performance on TV the other day and even there the orchestra wasn't mentioned...
The Max has been on my list for too long now, I should go out and buy it. Thanks for reminding me.
Harry Steinman wrote (July 20, 2000):
(To Philip Peters) Oh, details...guess that shows how often I listen to that particular recording. And I do actually have the Goodwin recording with Argenta, Rufus Miller, Richard Jackson, alto Jonathan Peter Kenny, Varcoe and others. I shall put it on my 'listen to list' tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion...I love collectors' items.
Lucas As wrote (July 20, 2000):
(To Philip Peters) In fact, there is a Leusink's SMP, now and then available in the Netherlands. That particular recording made Leusink "famous" in the Netherlands.
Martinus Leusink, the son of Jan Pieter, is the boy soprano soloist. Sytse Buwalda is taking the alto parts. It's a remarkable and enthusiastic recording with many pros and cons. The least you can say about it, that it's different from all other recordings of the SMP. The SMP of Leonhardt is perhaps the recording that has most in common with Leusink, though Leusink is much faster and not as "profound" as Leonhardt.
Leusink will be re-recording the SMP and will be recording the SJP for the first time at the end of this year.
Philip Peters wrote (July 20, 2000):
(To Lucas As) I see...I wasn't aware of all this. Is the older one on Brilliant Classics?
Lucas As wrote (July 20, 2000):
(To Philip Peters) Well, the past few years, during lent, you could buy this CD in big stores like Etos, Blokker and Aldi. It's surprising that you've never seen them before, they sold about 100.000 copies.
If you go to http://www.hollandboyschoir.com, you can order another CD from the HBC (e.g. the Coronation Anthems by Handel) and get the SMP (or Handel's Messiah, great recording!) for free.
You'll find an interesting interview (in Dutch) with Pieter Jan Leusink on http://www.j-s-bach.tmfweb.nl/interview.html
Solti’s Matthew Passion
Thomas Boyce wrote (May 4, 2001):
I have Solti's performance of the St. Matthew Passion. How does this performance stack up next to Herreweghe and Harnoncourt and Gardiner?
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