Sigiswald Kuijken has solved the eternal interpretive problem posed by recording Bach's sacred cantatas: how do you keep the performances interesting when the subject matter is so religiously focused? Kuijken's answer: focus on the music. In his cantata series with La Petite Bande, Kuijken's interpretations are not at all inexpressive -- the vocal soloists are expert at bringing out the emotional meaning of the texts -- but like the instrumental soloists, they are more intent on the musical meaning of the melodies. In this ...
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Sigiswald Kuijken has solved the eternal interpretive problem posed by recording Bach's sacred cantatas: how do you keep the performances interesting when the subject matter is so religiously focused? Kuijken's answer: focus on the music. In his cantata series with La Petite Bande, Kuijken's interpretations are not at all inexpressive -- the vocal soloists are expert at bringing out the emotional meaning of the texts -- but like the instrumental soloists, they are more intent on the musical meaning of the melodies. In this seventh volume of the series of cantatas for the complete liturgical year, Kuijken and his forces take on O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20; Ach Gott, vom Himmel sich darein, BWV 2; and Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10, and their performances are consistently musical. As always, the vocal soloists also function as a one-to-a-part choir thereby gracing the choral settings with almost unprecedented clarity. And always the vocal soloists are superb, with impeccable intonation and...
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