Bach Cantatas

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach is pure perfection: a vast yet intricate tapestry of heavenly beauty and human emotion. Mu sic was for Bach the means through which mortals could directly experience the divine, and his cantatas reveal his extraordinary gift for communicating directly with his listeners, even across three centuries. As dramatic and passionate as any opera, each cantata ca rries us deep into the heart of its story. This CD presents Bach’s two sacred cantatas for solo bass, performed by acclaimed Australian baritone David Greco and the exciting Tasmanian Baroque ensemble Van Diemen’s Band . Both cantatas offer us a vision of comfort and hope, beautifully conveyed by Greco’s rich, warm tones. Ich habe genug (It is enough), BWV82, is an outpouring of uttermost relief and joy: long, agonising years of waiting are forgotten as the old man Simeon realises that the baby he is cradling in his arms is the Christ child who brings new hope for th e world. Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen (Gladly will I bear the cross), BWV56, presents the human journey as a sea voyage, tossed on raging waters before coming safe home to port in heaven. The album also presents a selection of bass arias and instrumental movements taken from cantatas across Bach’s long career, f rom the carefree joy of the opening sinfonia to his cantata Der Herr denket an uns (BWV196) written for a wedding, perhaps even for Bach’s own wedding in 1707 to the profound tranquility of Betrachte , meine Seel

Tracks

1~1~Ach! Ich Sehefrom Cantata Bwv162
1~2~Auf Gott Stehtmeinezuversichtfrom Cantata Bwv138
1~3~Sinfoniafrom Cantata Bwv21
1~4~Betrachte, Meineseelfrom St John Passion
1~5~I. Ich Habegenug
1~6~Ii. Ich Habegenug
1~7~Iii. Schlummertein
1~8~Iv. Mein Gott! Wennkömmtdas Schöne: Nun!
1~9~V. Ich Freuemichauf Meinentod
1~10~Sinfonia From Cantata Bwv196
1~11~Es Istvollbrachtfrom Cantata Bwv159
1~12~Jesu, Deinepassion Istmir Lauter Freudefrom Cantata Bwv159
1~13~Sinfonia Iifrom Cantata Bwv35
1~14~I. Ich Will Den Kreuzstabgerne Tragen
1~15~Ii. Mein Wandelauf Der Welt
1~16~Iii. Endlich, Endlichwirdmeinjoch
1~17~Iv. Ich Stehefertigund Bereit
1~18~V. Komm, O Tod, Du Schlafesbruder

Details

Format: CD
Artist: David Greco, Van Diemens Band
Release Date: 05 July 2021
Genre: Classical Music
Label: Abc Classic
Distributor: Rocket Group