Bach Cantatas

[ritter]

Two different cantatas, Rafael. The ending chorale of O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60 is Es ist genug.

Of course, sorry for the confusion. 

[aligreto]

.... I quite like Gardiner and Suzuki so far for Bach's cantatas, but I haven't really heard much from anyone else yet.

Gardiner is my go to for the Bach Cantatas but do try to listen to some performances by Herreweghe. He tends to bring out the spirituality aspect of this music. Happy listening 

[North Star]

I'd recommend checking out recordings of Herreweghe, Philippe Pierlot, and Sigiswald Kuijken (Accent). And one of Brontë sisters (well I'm pretty sure it's not actually Emily Brontë) has uploaded the whole Suzuki cycle on Youtube. They'll be soon taken down, obviously.

https://www.youtube.com/v/aC6hqpj6svA

[bigshot]

To me the most important thing in the cantatas isn't the performance style, it's the singing. I have the Hanssler complete Bach box with the Rilling cantatas and I am thoroughly pleased with them. I find that Bach's cantatas make great everyday music. You can listen to them intently and appreciate them that way, or lower the volume and play them in the background. Either way they are calming and beautiful, with enough variation to not get monotonous. Great stuff. I don't even pay attention to which one is which any more. They are all good.

[North Star]

To me the most important thing in the cantatas isn't the performance style, it's the singing.

You think singing is independent of performance style?