Magdalena Kožená - BACH Arias

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Magdalena Kožená - BACH Arias

Here is a richly gifted, highly accomplished young singer – Mozart prize-winner Salzburg 1995, ‘Talent of the Year’ Prague Award-winner 1996, Vienna Volksoper Clemenza di Tito (Annio) 1997, together with a burgeoning career in concert and oratorio. She sings her Bach without a great deal of expression, in the Lieder or opera singer’s sense, but with due care for phrasing and rhythm, which are more important. Her voice is a fine and beautiful instrument, firmly produced, warm in timbre with a glow on the upper middle notes, sure of pitch. The present deficiency appears to be in true legato: ‘appears’ because she may be keeping a better legato in reserve for 19th-century music, having been taught that what she gives us here is as much legato as is good for Bach. Understand that there is nothing gross – no aspirates or bumps or tintack hammering. But the notes are too separate and unbound even so. The opening of ‘Wie starb die Heldin’ illustrates the point; but it is habitual and deprives the music of one of the special pleasures the singing voice should supply. What she does ‘sounds all right’ (people will say); but listen to Ferrier or Baker, for example, and you hear much more of the true legato which you may think to have heard here.
It is a highly enjoyable recital even so. A notable contribution to its success lies in the stylish playing of Musica Florea, a chamber orchestra using period instruments and led by a conductor whose feeling for Bach’s textures and rhythmic life is manifest throughout. Among the cantata arias are some that for many listeners will bring surprise as well as delight: ‘Kommt, ihr angefochtnen Sunder’ is an invitation to all erring mortals to dance their way to Paradise, and, once there, ‘Wohl euch, ihr auserwahlten Seelen’ serenely strikes up a dance for the blessed spirits. Magdalena Kozena herself will doubtless be among them. The leaflet’s introductory note ends auspiciously: ‘A Bach performer steps forward, bringing this glorious music closer to us; in return, we wish a young singer a rich and rewarding life of song.’ Amen to that.' (John Steane)

Size 209 Mb. Quality Ape

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
1) Aria: "Et exsultavit spiritus meus" [2:28]
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, Cantata BWV 208
2) Aria: Schafe können sicher weiden [4:07]
Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke Cantata, BWV 84
3) 3. Aria: Ich esse mit Freuden mein weniges Brot [5:13]
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
4) No.39 Aria (Alto): "Erbarme dich" [7:34]
Cantata, BWV 198 "Laß Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl"
5) 5. Aria: "Wie starb die Heldin so vergnügt" [7:00]
6) 3. Verstummt, ihr holden Saiten [3:39]
Cantata No.34 "O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe", BWV34
7) 3. Aria: "Wohl euch, ihr auserwählten Seelen" [5:08]
Cantata: "Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten" BWV 74
2. Aria: Komm, mein Herze steht dir offen [2:54]
St. John Passion, BWV 245
9) No.35 Aria (soprano): " Zerfließe, mein Herz " [6:43]
Cantata No.30 "Freue dich, erlöste Schar", BWV 30
10) 5. Aria: Kommt, ihr angefocht'nen Sünder [5:22]
Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Kyrie: No.1 Kyrie eleison
Gloria
11) Laudamus te [4:22]

Magdalena Kozená
Musica Florea
Marek Strync


1997 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg
1 CD DDD
457 3672 AH
ARCHIV Produktion

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