James Gilchrist, Matthew Rose, Ashley Riches, Elizabeth Watts, Sarah Connolly, Thomas Hobbs, Christopher Maltman
Choir of the AAM
Academy of Ancient Music
Richard Egarr
3CD set in hardback book
£28.50
‘Singing and playing is highly polished and assured throughout, with James Gilchrist superb as the Evangelist’ BBC Music Magazine
Since 1727, JS Bach's "Great Passion" has gripped the hearts and uplifted the minds of audiences all over the globe. Nearly three centuries after its premiere, the work has lost none of its power to evoke feelings of compassion for all those who suffer. Its mix of urgent story-telling, meditative arias and mighty choruses sets St Matthew's account of Christ's betrayal, trial and execution eloquently and emotionally..
Over the past 40 years the AAM has made over 300 recordings of baroque and classical music, winning Brit and Gramophone Awards along the way, however – remarkably – this is our first recording of the St Matthew Passion. With a superlative cast including James Gilchrist, Sarah Connolly, Thomas Hobbs, Elizabeth Watts, Christopher Maltman and Matthew Rose, and directed by Richard Egarr, this is a landmark project.
‘Richard Egarr and the Academy of Ancient Music brought an unapologetically lush and dramatic performance to the Concertgebouw stage . . . There was nothing cold or academic about this interpretation – playing and singing at their very best, the Academy of Ancient Music gave us a humane, generous vision of this most justly beloved of works.’ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Bachtrack
Released 30 March 2015.
