April 08th 2009
Sigiswald Kuijken throws new light on Bachs H-moll-Messe

With the recording of Vespro Beata della Vergine of Monteverdi (Challenge Classics CC 76613), performed by La Petite Bande, the International press was very enthusiastic. Mark Sealy of Musicweb-International.com writes: 'This recording is a winner. Not by the opulent, extrovert terms by which we usually judge Monteverdi's Vespers. But because Kuijken's conception has unselfconsciously grasped the piety, wonder, celebratory nature and almost passive loveliness of Monteverdi's idea without any kind of 'stripping away' of varnish. And because the execution of the consequent performance reaches such high Standards in sound and interpretation. Definitely one to add to the collection.'

Also in Germany the press was impressed with for instance a nomination of ‘Klassik CD-des Monats’ in STEREO!

The new production, the H-moll-Messe of J.S. Bach (CC 72316) also throws this new, brilliant light on a old masterwork, which sounds fresh and pure because of the vision of conductor Sigiswald Kuijken. The bare but beautiful essentials come to light as if the dust was wiped away of all these ages of performances and Kuijken goes back to the core of the work, to its inner beauty. He does this by way of not using a choir but single solo voices in the 'choir'-parts. Just concentrating on the music, that is what Kuijken does. And that is what he does best!

BASKET
h-Moll-Messe
La Petite Bande / Bach, Johann Sebastian Artists
La Petite Bande
Albums