Koopman's Second Passion of St. Matthew:
Passion plays became the musical high points of the church year in Leipzig under Bach. That fact that the Passion of St. Matthew can still overwhelm audiences today is without a doubt. Ton Koopman decided - after the first recording at ERATO more than 10 years ago - to record this masterpiece once again and consequently to put his experience with intensive involvement with the complete cantata by Bach into it. The result could not be more convincing in picture and sound, not the least thanks to the excellent soloists, who are much more well-balanced than the first time. Jörg Dürmüller (Evangelist)
Ekkehard Abele (Christus)
Cornelia Samuelis (Soprano)
Bogna Bartosz (Alto)
Paul Agnew (Tenor)
Klaus Mertens (Bass)