On Deutsche Grammophon: Karl Richter conducts the Munich Bach Choir and
Orchestra, with Kieth Engen, Ernst Haefliger, Evelyn Lear, Hermann Prey,
and Hertha Toepper soloists. This vies with the Furtwaengler recording as
my all-time favourite "old fashioned" recording of the work.
If you prefer a more "Early Music" approach, I can recommend the Archiv
recording, with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the English Baroque
Soloists and Monteverdi Choir, with Neill Archer, Nancy Argenta, Michael
Chance, Ruth Holton, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (as Evangelist) and Stephen
Varcoe (as Christ).
One of the most extraordinary recordings of this work is in English
translation, not German. It's the exquisite recording on London Classics,
with Sir Benjamin Britten conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and
Wandsworth School Boys Choir, with Heather Harper, Peter
Pears (surprise surprise), Jenny Hill, Alfred Hodgson, Gwynne Howell, John
Shirley-Quick, Robert Tear, Adrian Thompson, and John Tobin soloists.
Pears as the Evangelist is glorious - possibly the most sensitive,
heart-breaking interpretation of the role ever recorded in any language.
Heather Harper, soprano, Alfred Hodgson, alto, Robert Tear (Peter), and
John-Shirley Quick (Christ) are all equally brilliant. This is recording
is a *must have* as your second recording of this work.
KM
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My NEIL SHICOFF Website:
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html
My Website:
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
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We're sitting in the opera house;
We're waiting for the curtain to arise
With wonders for our eyes,
A feeling of expectancy,
A certain kind of ecstasy,
Expectancy and ecstasy....Sh's's's.
- Charles Ives
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