CD-Charts Position 1
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Bach: Mass In B Minor BWV 232 [2000]

starring: Ruth Holton, Matthias Rexroth, Christoph Genz, Klaus Mertens, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester

Release Date May 02, 2006
This is a very good recording of a live performance at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, in 2000. The famous boys' choir, Thomanerchor (a direct descendent of Bach's own choir), is very good, although occasional loss of perfect intonation is noticeable but inevitable, this performance having been recorded live.

The soprano, Ruth Holton, sings most beautifully without vibrato. However, the role of the female alto is taken by a countertenor. I don't really appreciate the use of a countertenor for this masterpiece of religious music. This is a matter of personal taste. But also, there are historical doubts: did Bach use countertenors? Were such voices ever heard in seventeenth-century Germany? The timbre of a countertenor seems to this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 - Christmas Oratorio Part 1 To 6 [1999]

starring: Claron McFadden, Bernarda Fink, Christoph Genz, Dietrich Henschel, The Monteverdi Choir

Release Date October 31, 2005
Brilliant. Absolutely, stunningly, mind-blowingly brilliant. This was the kick-off concert for the Gardiner Bach cantata pilgrimage of 2000, performed in the Herderkirche, Weimar. I have Gardiner's CD of the Weihnachtsoratorium, which I previously regarded as the best version. Not any more. This knocks spots off it. Soloists (vocal and instrumental), the EBS and of course the marvellous Monteverdis are on top form and the whole thing crackles with excitement. Gardiner clearly has a ball; no routine music-making this, this is passionate with a capital P. He also has a feeling for the dance-like rhythms in much of the piece - just listen to the Monteverdis sizzle through the skittering opening chorale of Cantata 5 and see how long you can stop ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Bach: Mass In B Minor

starring: Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, St. Thomas Boys Choir, Ruth Holton, Matthias Rexroth, Christoph Genz

Release Date December 03, 2001
I highly recommend this. And I profoundly disagree with the comments of the earliest reviewer. Yes, im sure that a more 'perfect' rendering could have been achieved by 'mature' performers singing it for the umpteenth time, in a recording studio. But if you want a wonderfully fresh, moving, enthusiastic performance by a group of young people who are so obviously giving of their very best - then this is the one. To me, this is what music, and music-making, is all about. I loved it.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Ascension Oratorios - J.S. Bach - Lobet Gott In Seinen Reichen BWV 11 / C.P.E. Bach - Die Auferstehung Und Himmelfahrt Jesu [2004]

starring: Sophie Karthauser, Patrizia Hardt, Christoph Einhorn, Christoph Genz, Jan Van Der Crabben

Release Date January 31, 2005
I highly recommend this. And I profoundly disagree with the comments of the earliest reviewer. Yes, im sure that a more 'perfect' rendering could have been achieved by 'mature' performers singing it for the umpteenth time, in a recording studio. But if you want a wonderfully fresh, moving, enthusiastic performance by a group of young people who are so obviously giving of their very best - then this is the one. To me, this is what music, and music-making, is all about. I loved it.