Convincing part of a big picture

Spectacular things are sometimes quite inconspicuous. The plain orange cover has no photo. You will search in vain for the names of the soloists. Conductor Rudolf Lutz and his orchestra from the J.S. Bach Foundation St. Gallen, which plays on period instruments, are all about the matter in hand - a complete performance of Bach's vocal works over a period of 25 years, including audio and video recordings (see Sswiss music newspaper 9/2009, p. 14 f.).

Musically, the twentieth CD of this ambitious project is a great success. The clarity of the text is excellent throughout. The choir of the J.S. Bach Foundation shines with agility and transparency, while the soloists impress with their clever phrasing and many tonal colors. In the cantata BWV 96 Lord Christ, the one and only Son of God special guest Maurice Steger draws elaborate lines on the sopranino recorder. The fast opening chorus is light-footed and dance-like. The lying notes in the orchestra are lively, the articulation is always eloquent. Jan Börner's alto is just as moving as Noëmi Sohn Nad's limp soprano. And the arias are also in good hands with Hans Jörg Mammel (tenor) and Wolf Matthias Friedrich (bass).

In the light cantata BWV 67 Hold Jesus Christ in remembrance the choir inspires with relaxed coloratura. And when bass Dominik Wörner sings his calm greeting of peace to the troubled souls in the choir and orchestra, the result is great theatricality. In the cantata We should already praise Christ BWV 121 is accentuated by Andreas Holm on the oboe d'amore, while Johannes Kaleschke (tenor) plays the coloratura in the aria O creature exalted by God sparkles. Only the final chorales seem a little breathless in this stimulating interpretation of Bach, which relies on fluid tempi and great agility. But this cannot detract from the excellent overall impression.