Johannes-Passion Main Performer or Conductor: Hans-Joachim Rotzsch Accompaniment/Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester+Thomanerchor Soloists: Arleen Auger, soprano (Maid) Peter Schreier, tenor (Evangelist) Armin Ude, tenor (Servant) Theo Adam, bass (Jesus) Siegfried Lorentz, baritone (Pilatus/Peter) Heldi Riess, contralto Instrumentation: Cello Choir Flute Oboe Orchestra Organ Viola da Gamba Lute Viola D'amore Doublebass Individual Works: St. John Passion (Johannes Passion) BWV 245 Format: Compact Disc Record Label: BMG Classics/RCA Red Seal Catalog Number: 74321 49181 2 Year Released/Recorded: 12/75+4/76 Total Playing Time: CD1:59:48+CD2:61:18 Total 2Hrs1Min6Sec Comments: Ehud Shiloni said: Interpretaion: "Old School", but overall interesting. Acoustics: Not bad at all, considering this is 23 years old. A 1976 original, re-released on 2CD's in 1998. This is an "old school" rendition, with a "modern" orchestra and a boys choir. However, it comes directly from Leipzig, directed by the then-Thomascantor Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, and with the choir of the Thomaskirche, so it deserves attention even from later- day afficionados trained on Gardiner's and now on Suzuki's "Historically Informed" versions. The pace here is slower, the boys voices "shriek" occassionally, and overall I cannot say that this is a first-choice version. But: Peter Schreier is very-very good as evangelist, and the sound of the Gewandhausorchester at times becomes really impressive and convincing, such as with the bass aria "Eilt, ihr angefochtnen Seelen". So,on balance, I can recommend this one as an interesting addition to a "St. John collection". Acknowledgements: Thank you to the following for submitting this recording and for your comments: Ehud Shiloni Date First Submitted: 05/23/1999 Purchasing: Suggested Purchasing Sources Note: Inclusion in this database does not guarantee the availability of any recording. Some recordings may be out-of-print or no longer available.

---

About This Site Biography, Portraits and Literature Works by BWV Number Works by Category Works by Instrument & Title Works by Key Works by Title Works by Year The Cantatas Project Recordings by Title Recordings by Conductor or Main Performer Recordings by Instrument Recordings by BWV Number Recordings by Record Label Recordings Submitted Recently Web Sites with Bach Information Web Sites with Bach MIDI Files Featured Recordings Suggested Purchasing Sources