John Eliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir - Bach: Cantatas BWV 179, 191, 113 (2000)

Taking the Bach cantatas as a basis for a year-long pilgrimage in 2000, conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner led the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists on an emotional and artistically triumphant world tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer's death. These performances feature Cantatas 179, 199, and 113, all composed for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, in marvelously dramatic interpretations by the choir and soloists, including soprano Magdalena Kozen, alto William Towers, tenor Mark Padmore, and bass Stephan Loges. Gardiner's mission to expose the delicacy of emotion at the heart of Bach's deceptively simple melodies pays dividends in settings that range from baroque German cathedrals to the austere bleakness of the island of Iona off Scotland. It's a moving spiritual journey thanks to the passion of the performances and, above all, to Gardiner's vision of Bach's continuing relevance in the modern world at the beginning of a new millennium.

–Piers Ford

Performer:
Magdalena Kožená, soprano
William Towers, alto
Marc Padmore, tenor
Stephan Loges, bass
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
Conductor - John Eliot Gardiner

Track List:
Cantata BWV 179
01. "Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei", Chorus
02. "Das heut'ge Christentum ist leider schlecht bestellt", Recitative for tenor
03. "Falscher Heuchler Ebenbild konnen Sodom Apfel heissen", Aria for tenor
04. "Wer so vonn innen wie von außen ist", Recitative for bass
05. "Liebster Gott, erbarme dich", Aria for soprano
06. "Ich armer Mensch, ich armer Sünder", Chorus
07. "Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut", Recitative for soprano
08. "Stumme Seufzer, stille Klagen", Aria for soprano
09. "Doch Gott muß mir genädig sein", Recitative for soprano
Cantatas BWV 199
10. "Tief gebückt und voller Reue", Aria for soprano
11. "Auf diese Schmerzens-Reu", Recitative for soprano
12. "Ich, dein betrübtes Kind", Chorus
13. "Ich lege mich in diese Wunden", Recitative for soprano
14. "Wie freudig ist mein Herz", Aria for soprano
Cantatas BWV 113
15. "Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut", Chorale
16. "Erbarm dich mein in solcher Last", Chorale for countertenor
17. "Fürwahr, wenn mir das kommet ein", Aria for bass
18. "Jedoch dein heilsam Wort, das macht - dass meine Brust", Chorale & Recitative for bass
19. "Jesus nimmt die Sünder an", Aria for tenor
20. "Der Heiland nimmt die Sünder an", Recitative for tenor
21. "Ach Herr, mein Gott, vergib mir doch", Aria Duet for soprano and countertenor
22. "Stärk mich mit deinem Freudengeist", Chorale