Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Choir & National Children’s Choir, Mark Padmore, Ivan Fischer

ARTHAUS 101 676     174’00

The accompanying booklet makes great claims for this recording. In the light of modern scholarship Ivan Fischer performed the work with two distinct forces, separated as widely as the Concertgebouw platform would allow, to get as close as possible to the concept for the work which Bach himself had in mind. The choral forces are split into the Daughters of Jerusalem and The Faithful.  So far so good. This makes sense of Bach’s writing and in live performance would probably be very effective.

Unfortunately when reduced to DVD and domestic equipment the effect is not as dramatic as one assumes had been anticipated. Even with good quality stereo the disparity is often lost, though surround sound might enhance this. Moreover, the use of modern instruments and large orchestral forces, together with a slow, sometimes rather plodding, approach to pace, works against any frisson which the double setting might have aquired.

The singing is sound, with Mark Padmore an exemplary Evangelist, but I am glad we have a wide range of other recordings to choose from at this time. BH