To the vocal lines of arias and duets, Bach composed gorgeous violin obbligati. In this novel album, Hilary Hahn records these obbligati exclusively an act of devotion no other virtuoso violinist has ever committed to disc.
Sharing this album with Hahn are soprano Christine Schfer and baritone Matthias Goerne, both also renowned Bach exponents
Numbers from such masterpieces as the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor are rendered with an unearthly beauty and a reverence that add to this recordings historical significance
An album of intriguing novelty, grace and subtlety. The Independent, 8th January 2010 ****
Bach, J S: St Matthew Passion, BWV244: Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder (bass aria)
Cantata BWV140 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme': Wenn kmmst du, mein Heil? (duet - soprano, bass)Cantata BWV204 'Ich bin in mir vergngt': Die Schtzbarkeit der weiten Erden (soprano aria)
Cantata BWV32 'Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen': Hier in meines Vaters Sttte (bass aria)
Cantata BWV205 'Zerreiet. Zersprenge, zertrmmert die Gruft': Angenehmer Zephyrus (soprano aria)
Mass in B minor, BWV232: Laudamus Te
Cantata BWV157 'Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn': Jaja, ich halte Jesum feste (bass aria)
Flute: Henrik Wiese
Cantata BWV59 'Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten': Die Welt mit allen Knigreichen (bass aria)
Cantata BWV58 'Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid': Ich bin vergngt in meinem Leiden (soprano aria)
Cantata BWV117 'Sei Lob und Ehr dem hchsten Gut': Wenn Trost und Hlf ermangeln muss (soprano aria)
Cantata BWV158 'Der Friede sei mit dir' Welt, ade, ich bin dein mde (bass aria)
St Matthew Passion, BWV244: Erbarme dich
transposed for soprano by Felix Mendelssohn