J. S. BACH
Secular Cantatas Vol VI: Trauerode [BWV198 & BWV1083] Carolyn Sampson, Joanne Lunn (sopranos), Robin Blaze (counter-ten), Gerd Türk (tenor) & Dominik Wörner (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan directed by Masaa [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Mar/2016 ] Although Bach's sacred cantatas span a huge expressive range and display a striking stylistic diversity, they were all composed for performance during a church service. In the case of the secular cantatas, on the other hand, their respective purpose... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Requiem / Vesperae solennes de confessore Carolyn Sampson, Marianne Beate Kielland, Makato Sakurada, Christian Immler / Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 10/Oct/2014 ] "I enjoyed this disc very much and found the expert performances very stimulating. As it's a BIS disc it seems almost superfluous to comment on standards of presentation." (MusicWeb Feb 2015) |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Great Mass in C minor, K427 / Exsultate, jubilate, K165 Carolyn Sampson, Olivia Vermeulen, Makoto Sakurada, Christian Immler / Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/Nov/2016 ] "The choir are well drilled and the two female soloists are matched as well as any on disc...Suzuki is no speed merchant, and maintains the through line in more strenuous movements" Gramophone Award WINNER 2017 |
J. S. BACH
Mass in B minor Carolyn Sampson, Rachel Nicholls (sopranos) Robin Blaze (alto) Gerd Tark (tenor) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS SACD / 2 Hybrid SACD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE AWARD FINALIST 2008 - Baroque Vocal - "Among the handful of best recordings made, regardless of style." (MusicWeb Jan 2008) |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol.30): Alles mit Gott / Cantata BWV51 plus bonus track Carolyn Sampson (soprano) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki (conductor) [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2006 ] Rosette Recording - Penguin Stereo Guide |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 38) BWV52, BWV82 (bass version), BWV55 & BWV58 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2008 ] "Easily the best-known piece here is Ich habe genug (BWV 82). Peter Kooij's tender, yearning account is more modestly stated than versions by his more extrovert rivals. Gerd Türk, assisted by Suzuki's beautifully shaped phrasing, makes a stronger... |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 42) BWV13, BWV16, BWV32 & BWV72 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2009 ] The present volume in the cantata cycle of the Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki consists of four works all written for performances in January 1726. Among these is the New Year's cantata Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV16 (Lord God, we praise you). |
J. S. BACH
Secular Cantatas Vol 1: BWV210 'The Wedding', BWV211 'The Coffee' Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Makoto Sakurada (tenor) Stephan Schreckenberger (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan directed by Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / CD - released 1/Oct/2004 ] "From a purely musical point of view this is a very good recording. Carolyn Sampson has a beautiful, warm and yet clear voice, which is well suited to this kind of music. Her German pronunciation is quite good too. The other singers - in the Coffee... |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas (Vol 34) Nos 1, 126 & 127 Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Gerd Tark (tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jan/2007 ] " Masaaki Suzuki's poised grandeur brings considerable richness to this marvellous score, a sparkling duo of solo violins offset deftly against the full ivory texture of high horns and low oboes in the chorus, and joined by top-drawer solo singing."... |
J.S. BACH
Cantatas, Vol.39 (BWV28, 68, 175, 183) Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) Peter Kooij (bass) / Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Apr/2008 ] After two volumes concentrating on solo cantatas, the full forces - including the splendid choir - of Bach Collegium Japan return in this programme of five cantatas dated 1725. The choir instantly makes its presence felt in the first movement of the... |
HANDEL
The People Shall Hear! Great Handel Choruses Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Robin Blaze (counter-tenor) / The Bach Choir / The English Concert / David Hill [ BIS / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Mar/2009 ] Despite the fact that he wrote a large number of operas and instrumental works, Handel is often perceived as a choral composer - or, more specifically, as the composer of the Hallelujah chorus. |
ALLEGRI / GABRIELI / NANINO / FRESCOBALDI / etc
Allegri: Miserere & other choral favourites Choir of King's College, Cambridge / Cambridge University Musical Society / The Bach Choir [ EMI Encore / CD - released 1/Feb/2012 ] King's College Cambridge Choir, Stephen Cleobury, David Willcocks |
VERDI / BEETHOVEN / BACH
Sacred Music [4 DVDs Special Price] Christian Elsner, Rene Pape, Midori Suzuki, Robin Blaze, Ruth Ziesak / Dresden State Opera, Musicale Fiorentino, Bach Collegium Japan, etc [ DV1 / Ovation Entertainment / 4 DVD Box Set - released 16/Sep/2010 ] The great sacred works Masses, oratorios and requiems are among the most moving and sublime creations of classical music. They provide solace and can lift you in ways that mere words can never achieve. G |
HAYDN / BACH / MENDELSSOHN
Christine Schafer: Arias Christine Schäfer (Soprano) Gachinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach Collegium Stuttgart / Helmuth Rilling [ Hanssler / CD - released 19/Apr/2008 ] Following her debut as Konstanze in the 1997 Salzburg Festival, German soprano Christine Schäfer was hailed as "the Mozart singer of our time" by the European press. |
W. A. MOZART
Discovering Masterpieces - W.A. Mozart: Symphony No 41 Jupiter" (Documentary & performance recorded in 2005)" Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Hartmut Haenchen [ DV1 / Ovation / EuroArts DVD / DVD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] G - The "Jupiter" Symphony is regarded as a milestone not only in Mozart's symphonie output but, on a more general level, in the development of the Classical symphony. |
HANDEL
Alexander's Feast / Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 4b in F major Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Felicity Palmer & Stephen Roberts / Stockholm Bach Choir & Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt [ Teldec Warner Classics Das Alte Werk / 2 CD - released 1/Jun/2009 ] "All three soloists are really very good indeed" Gramophone |
Dan Laurin & Bach Collegium Ja
Vivaldi:recorder Concertos [ Bis / CD ] |
W. A. MOZART
Complete Church Sonatas Daniel Chorzempa (organ) / German Bach Soloists, Helmut Winschermann [ Pentatone SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 12/Apr/2005 ] he world renowned organ player Daniel Chorzempa plays the choir organ of the abbey church of Wilhering. He is joined by the German Bach Soloists a world-renowned, Baroque-period instrumental ensemble led by the German conductor and oboist, Helmut... |
J. S. BACH
Bach, (J.S.): Solo Cantatas for Bass BWV56, 82 & 158 David Greco (bass) / Luthers Bach Ensemble, Tymen Jan Bronda [ Brilliant Classics / CD - released 2/Sep/2019 ] A trio of Bach's devotional masterpieces from a vibrant young Dutch early-music ensemble and an exciting Australian baritone. |
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Schubert: Mass No. 6 in E flat major / Stabat Mater Dorothea Craxton, Rolf Ehlers, Birte Kulawik, Raimund Mlnarschik, Cornelia Rosenthal / Immortal Bach Ensemble / Leipzig Chamber Orch / Schuldt-Jensen [ Naxos / CD - released 8/Mar/2008 ] One of a remarkable series of works Schubert wrote in his final year, Mass No. 6 in E flat lay unperformed until a year after his death. With an unusually prominent part for trombones, this is a powerful and disquieting masterpiece, reconciling the... |