St. Matthew Passion - Karl Richter version

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Which one of his versions do you prefer--the one from 1959, or the later one? (First person to tell me that these performances are not "historically accurate" will receive a boot to the head.    )

[val]

I saw Karl Richter conducting St. Matthew Passion. I must say he was much more intense live than in his recordings.

I never heard his 2nd version. The one I know is the one of 1959 with some extraordinary soloists, such as Seefried, Fischer Dieskau and the greatest Evangelist I ever heard, Ernst Häfliger. It is an important version even if I prefer, Jochum, not to mention Harnoncourt.
The instrumental soloists used by Richter are in general very, very good. Sometimes the Choirs are too heavy and we cannot understand very clearly the polyphony but in the Chorals he is always deeply inspired.

[prémont]

I saw Karl Richter conducting St. Matthew Passion. I must say he was much more intense live than in his recordings.

I can tell, that the same is true of his organ playing.
So maybe his recordings aren´t but a faint shadow of his music making.

[KevinP]

To be clear, there are five Richter Matthew Passions, though some have never been brought to digital format.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV244-Richter.htm

But I don't know know anyone who prefers Richter's later recordings compared to his earlier ones.

[Conor71]

I have this one which i think is the 1970's recording (may need to check on that!) - I like it quite a bit! 


[asin]B000026CS9[/asin]