Much too slow and ponderous, I'm afraid. I am a fan of Karl Richter's Bach cantatas recordings but this Actus Tragicus is poor compared with more modern HIP recordings. I first heard this piece when I bought the Das Alte Werke LP by Gustave Leonhardt et. al. in the 1960s. I was blown away! If you read the notes, this cantata is very untypical of Bach's cantatas in that it employs a number of older forms in the different sections. It simply is not best suited to Richter's general approach, which favours big choirs whereas this beautiful cantata requires a more intimate approach. Having said that, there is still some beautiful and moving choral singing here so still worth listening to. I love the fervour of Richter's choirs. There you are - we can have the best of all worlds with modern technology!
Well, it is named "Tragicus". So I dont find it too slow. But sure, it all comes down to personal preference. There are no tempo markings by Bach. Nor dynamics. RIchter's choir obviously was "bigger" than the modern historically-obsessed ensembles, but he never lacks clarity. I particularly dislike the bouncy-bouncy dance accents and downbeats heard in so much of the latter. And the thin forces sometimes verge on threadbare. But then I also prefer piano to harpsichord, like the overwhelming majority of classical music aficionados. Even Gardiner and Herreweghe use women not boys in their choirs. Not very historical!
Sublime.
No se puede vivir sin Bach.
Beautifully sung and played💐💐💐
Una versión que es en sí misma una obra de arte. Grandísimo Richter, genial.
UNA DE LAS LISTAS DE REPRODUCCION MAS BELLAS, GRACIAS POR COMPARTIR.
Dolce & Struggente
♥️☕️💐👏
Much too slow and ponderous, I'm afraid. I am a fan of Karl Richter's Bach cantatas recordings but this Actus Tragicus is poor compared with more modern HIP recordings. I first heard this piece when I bought the Das Alte Werke LP by Gustave Leonhardt et. al. in the 1960s. I was blown away! If you read the notes, this cantata is very untypical of Bach's cantatas in that it employs a number of older forms in the different sections. It simply is not best suited to Richter's general approach, which favours big choirs whereas this beautiful cantata requires a more intimate approach.
Having said that, there is still some beautiful and moving choral singing here so still worth listening to. I love the fervour of Richter's choirs. There you are - we can have the best of all worlds with modern technology!
Well, it is named "Tragicus". So I dont find it too slow. But sure, it all comes down to personal preference. There are no tempo markings by Bach. Nor dynamics.
RIchter's choir obviously was "bigger" than the modern historically-obsessed ensembles, but he never lacks clarity.
I particularly dislike the bouncy-bouncy dance accents and downbeats heard in so much of the latter. And the thin forces sometimes
verge on threadbare. But then I also prefer piano to harpsichord, like the overwhelming majority of classical music aficionados.
Even Gardiner and Herreweghe use women not boys in their choirs. Not very historical!
Beg to differ. The tempi are quite appropriate and emphasize the melancholic nature. Also the soloists are top notch with Prey.