J.S.Bach - Matthaus Passion BWV 244 - Fritz Lehmann

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J.S.Bach - Matthaus Passion BWV 244 - Fritz Lehmann

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Critic Teri Noel Towe places this Fritz Lehmann account "among the greatest performances on disc," and further describes the reading as "squarely in the classic, Mendelssohnian tradition-straightforward and relatively brisk overall, with long legato phrases and rhythmic robustness." Despite the relatively large orchestra, there's a leanness and clarity to the sonority and tempo that marks a decisive break with many of the more famous recordings from about this time and earlier. This is a monumental but bracing performance that successfully navigates the straits between ponderousness and flippancy. Though all the soloists are distinguished artists of their day, the set is particularly noteworthy for Fischer-Dieskau's Jesus, recorded when he was a mere stripling of 24. As David Breckbill writes in his notes, "I have rarely encountered a setting in which a voice is more forcibly suggestive, through its very timbre, of 'divinity' in relation to the voices that surround it." CD-1091(3) J.S. BACH: ST. MATTHEW PASSION­ THE FIRST COMPLETE RECORDING, FEATURING DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU AS CHRIST (1949). J.S. Bach, Matthaeus-Passion (St. Matthew Passion) with Elfriede Trцtschel, Soprano, Diana Eustrati, Alto, Helmut Krebs, Tenor­ Evangelist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Baritone­Jesus, Friedrich Hдrtel, Bass. With the Runfunk-­Sinfonieorchester Berlin, the GroЯer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks, the Children's Choir of St. Hedwig№s Cathedral. Conducted by Fritz Lehmann. Recorded from live performances given 9/10 April 1949 in the Haus des Rundfunks by Radio DDR. A co-production with the Deutches Rundfunkarchiv (DRA). CD#1 68:43; CD#2 64:37; CD#3 66:01. UPC# 0-17685-10912-6. AAD. Available more than 50 years ago in a Discophiles Francais set and on Vox vinyl Lp's, this performance is NOW RE-ISSUED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES of the central German Radio Sound Archive.

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