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 After all these years !! May 02, 2008
After all these years of hearing this great work in an atmosphere of absolute correctness, it completely blows me away to hear Bernstein unafraid to be swept up in the immense passion of Christ's trial, crucifixion and death. Bernstein wasn't obsessed with 'what did Bach intend or want here' but instead was swept up in the drama depicted by St. Matthew. And, I think Bach would have liked that. The English version here is not the King James which would have helped the translation somewhat. Critics can have a field day with David Lloyd's almost operatic evangelist, but I saw it in context and liked it. Maybe this deeply emotional version is well worth reconsidering after all these years and many ultra proper German versions that in essence become museum works... dry and terribly calculating. It is so obvious that Bernstein considered this one of the most deeply serious works ever written. He loved the work... period. Warren Taylor
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 A "Regular People" Review Mar 18, 2007
Wow, I picked this up used for six bucks and was not expecting much because I wasn't too exited about the thought of an english translation. I was blown away when I listened to this. Not only is this great emotional music (I didn't think they made baroque music like this!). But I can follow it in english and it makes it incredibly entertaining and simply beautiful. Great music AND it tells a story! Really, give this a try....and keep me updated! (also does anyone think its odd that he has a cigarette in his hand on the cover, you can tell that this was produced a while ago, today thats not politically correct!....just an observation)
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The best of the baroque era! Apr 19, 2005
Lutheran tradition of setting the passion narrative to music reached its peak in J. S. Bach's "Saint Matthew's Passion". It recounts biblical events and tries to apply their lessons to life. This work is the most famous of Bach's five passions and it regularly alternates between different time frames. The central narrative, taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew 26-27, but also based on several texts written by C. F. Henrici (Picander), a librettist and close friend of the composer himself, takes place in biblical times. An evangelist narrates the story of Jesus's arrest, trial and crucifixion, with different solo singers performing the parts of Jesus, Judas, Pilates, High Priests, Disciples, roman soldiers and the crowd.
Another set of musical pieces regularly takes us out of the biblical time frame and into modern times with arias and duets. In these pieces, individuals contemplate the implications of biblical events for modern believers.
This work was meant for use as part of church services, especially Good Friday Vespers. It is sometimes compared to an opera and sometimes to a sermon. "Saint Matthew's Passion" represents the culmination of lutheran tradition of liturgical passions and it certainly demonstrates the height of Bach's compositional mastery and the profundity of his musical expression. With this massive work, Bach claimed his throne as a genius and master of polyphonic music. He optimally uses all musical means available to him at the time: widely diverse singing voices and instrumental sonorities. Generally, the chorus express the crowd's feelings, while the chorals symbolize the christian community. Every character has his/her particular musical style in the Passion. The evangelist carries the actions forward in the form of recitative secco, accompanied by continuo alone, merely recounting events. Jesus speaks to his disciples and to Pilates in a form between recitative and aria.
My personal favorite parts: "Erbarme dich, Mein Gott" (Lord, have mercy!") aria, accompanied by a somewhat wayward baroque violin, and of course, the tragic, triumphant chorus finale "Wir setzen uns mit tränen nieder" ("We sit down with tears in our eyes"), one of the most beautiful and powerful things a christian mind has ever created!
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
FROM BERNSTEIN'S SOUL TO OURS Apr 18, 2003
I've waited 20 years to find this re-release of a 60's recording that I'd worn out 2 sets of LPs playing. In my view this is one of Bernstein's finest- every tempo, every dynamic, every nuance flows from his soul to his baton and to the orchestra, chorus, and soloists. Certainly not for the purists given the cuts and modern orchestral treatment, but for pure listening bliss this is the recording to own. His (all too) brief explanation of this work at the end exposes his emotional involvement with this masterful music and is a delightful bonus that was originally included as a 7" LP in the set. Bravo to Sony for their Bernstein re-release program!
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
passion in this Passion Mar 24, 2002
The true test of this recording is comparing the last chorus with other versions by Klemperer, Gardiner, Ritcher, Koopman, et al. Why?
Because Bach was wrenching all the drama he could from that last
expression of the sorrow of life of Jesus. "Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder" says it all. And Bernstein's version comes in at the slowest.
Over nine minutes! Koopman at six. And the cold, heartless Gardiner
even faster. Gardiner has no concept of the meaning and glorious
passion in this music. Don't buy his Bach recordings. Listen only to
this last chorus' first phrase and how gut-wrenching it is! Bernstein
understood this great masterpiece, and his version is worth buying
just for this chorus.
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