J.S. Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245

amuletts — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:43:31 +0000

Alto returns the acclaimed 1996 recordings of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion by the King’s College Choir, Cambridge under the direction of Stephen Cleobury, and joined by an impressive array of Baroque specialists headed by the tenor John Mark Ainsley (Evangelist), the bass Stephen Richardson as Christ, soprano Catherine Bott, alto Michael Chance, and baritone Stephen Varcoe. The orchestra, the Brandenburg Consort, founded by Roy Goodman, was one of the leading period-instrument ensembles specializing in the music J.S. Bach and his contemporaries.

St. John Passion was first performed in 1724 as part of a church service during Holy Week at St.Thomas’ Church in Leipzig with other items being added the following year, included in this recording (‘1725 setting’), although later Bach reverted to the original 1724 version. With its trial scenes St John Passion is noticeably more dramatic than the St. Matthew Passion which followed a couple of years later.

“A lively, well-paced version with original instruments and excellent team of characterful soloists, with the fresh-toned (King’s Choir) boy trebles adding dramatic bite. What especially distinguishes this set is that the alternative numbers that Bach wrote for a revival in 1725, are given in an appendix, including the Chorale fantasy in place of the opening …Most enjoyable” —Penguin Guide, 3 stars

“fine contributions especially from Stephen Varcoe, and an exceptionally immediate and affecting ‘Es ist vollbracht’ from Michael Chance.” —Gramophone

10 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL ORGANS

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:26 +0000

“These are not only renowned organs with splendid sound, but here as recorded by renowned sound engineers with great experience and success in organ recordings”

10 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL ORGANS

(recorded by legendary Sound engineers)

Coventry Cathedral / Noel Rawsthorne (B. Culverhouse)

[1] Verdi: Grand March (Aida) 5:14

Salisbury Cathedral / David Halls (LAndrews)

[2] Elgar: Imperial March 5:03

[3] Sousa: Liberty Bell (BBC ‘Monty Python’ theme) 3:04

Westminster Cathedral / David Hill (A.Howell)

[4] Saint-Saens: Fantasie in Eb 5:01

[5] Vierne: Carillon de Westminster 6:40

Winchester Cathedral / David Hill (A.Howell)

[6] Whitlock: Scherzo 1:47 & [7] Paean 2:39

York Minster / Francis Jackson (B. Culverhouse)

[8] Cocker: Tuba Tune 4:42

[9] Boellmann: Toccata (Suite Gothique) 4:08

St Paul’s Cathedral / Christopher Dearnley (B. Culverhouse)

[10] Trad arr. Dearnley: Londonderry Air 4:24

Kings College Chapel, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury (Collins)

[11] Prizeman: Toccata (BBC ‘Songs of Praise’) 4:27

[12] Widor: Toccata (Symphony 5) 6:04

Hereford Cathedral / Roy Massey (H.Mudd)

[13] Lemare: Andantino (‘Moonlight & Roses’) 4:15

Guildford Cathedral / Barry Rose (B. Culverhouse)

[14] Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary (arr. B.Rose) 2:44

Wells Cathedral / Andrew Nethsingha (H.Mudd)

[15] Bach: Sleepers Awake 4:40 [16] Elgar: Nimrod 4:37

BONUS: Royal Albert Hall, London / Simon Preston (H.Mudd)

[18] Bossi: Etude Symphonique 5:00

Stephen Cleobury – Alto CD

J.S. Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245

10 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL ORGANS