Bach Cantatas: Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner
List Price:
Our Price: $26.99
You Save: $3.00 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 6 to 11 days
Buy Used: from $12.00 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: John Eliot GardinerDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Surround; German (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 127 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-11-20
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
DVD Reviews of Bach Cantatas: Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner
DVD Review: a voice teacher and early music fan
Summary: 5 Stars
BACH INITIALED THE END OF EACH OF HIS CANTATAS 'SDG'FOR 'SOLI DEO GLORIA'; TO THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE.
There are two parts in this video: a sixty seven minute performance of Bach's most attractive cantatas for the eleventh sunday after Trinity, and a sixty minute documentary of Gardiner's tour that includes excerpts from many of his other performances during the tour. More specifically, the towns that Gardiner chose for his tour all had special significance in Bach's life, and the cantatas he chose were directly related to the event involved. Gardiner explains all of this very clearly in the documentary which actually mesmorized me throughout, so much so that I ignored the telephone, the doorbell and anything else that went on during that time. I would suggest that you view the Documentary before the accompanying concert. The towns involved are: Weimar, Leipzig, Hamburg, Eisenach, Arnstadt, Blythburgh, Kirkwall, Iona, St.Davids, Cologne and New York City.
In the year 2000,John Eliot Gardiner set out on his Bach Pilgrimage, the goal of which was to perform all of Bach's Sacred Cantatas in various churches throughout Europe. This was done over a fifty-two week period, and it was with religious fervor that his Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists achieved this unique goal.
One must admire Gardiner for his belief and perserverence in such a far-out and somewhat crazy project. The difficulty alone of traveling to different areas, and having to learn three or four cantatas per week had to be a grueling experience for the musicians. However, the truth of the DVD cannot be denied, and this tour borders on the miraculous. For the most part, choir and soloists alike give us an emotional and profound experience.
As to the three cantatas performed in the concert portion of the DVD, I most of all question Gardiner's selection of them. To my thinking they do not seem to be that interesting among the line-up of all the others he might have chosen. BWV 179 was the most interesting of the lot, because it seemed to move along tunefully and the three soloists performed well in this one: Padmore(tenor)was magnificent, Kozena was quite good and Stephen Loges (bass) was adequate to the task.
Cantata 199 was attractive, but it seemed odd that Gardiner chose this one that only used a soprano soloist throughout with occasional choral participation; it did not really allow much variety for the listeners.
Cantata 113 was easy to take with such an excellent aria sung by Padmore, who really knows how to sing Bach the way it should be sung! A big disppointment to me was the countertenor William Towers: his delivery was weak, to say the least, and he's not quite ready to sing Bach. Now here is a good question for Gardiner. During the course of the tour he made use of many well-known singers such as Mark Padmore, but he also had access to Michael Chance, Daniel Taylor and even Derek Ragin. Why choose a novice like Towers???Unless nobody else could make it. I certainly would have welcomed a David Daniels.
All of the above is my own personal reaction that may or MAY NOT agree with your's, but that's the great thing about listening to music. We can all feel and respond to it the way we like, so go for it!
The Documentary was inspirational to see and hear, as the varied soloists appeared, though briefly, throughout the different performances. Each individual's enthusiasm for Bach and Gardiner too, was quite apparent. One can also see intensity and a touch of fatigue on the faces of the musicians as the tour progresses. But professionals they are, and they sang well all the way to New York City, the final concert of the Pilgrimage
It is most unfortunate that Deutches Grammofon axed the release of all of the recordings (curses on them, I say),but they are gradually being made available through Gardiner's own recording company SDG, and I eagerly await the next one which is Vol.4, to be released around June 29. These recordings constitute an extraordinary testament to some of the finest music ever written and a true belief in the power of music.
The packaging includes a booklet with historical notes and biographies in English, French and German. Full Texts of the three performance cantatas and subtitles in English, French and German. Total Time=127 minutes.
More Bach Cantatas: Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner reviews:
1
1
Classical Music CDs
Bestsellers in Classical Music CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.40
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $25.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.87
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.94
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $23.62
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
An Easter CelebrationAllegro; Release date: 2010-05-11; DVD
Best price: $6.23
Price in other shops:
Monteverdi - Vespro Della Beata Vergine / Gardiner, Monteverdi ChoirUniversal Studios; Release date: 2003-04-08; DVD
Best price: $16.84
Price in other shops:
Bach In Notre-Dame De Paris: Mass in B Minor - John NelsonRelease date: 2007-01-16; DVD
Best price: $10.02
Price in other shops:
A Handel Celebration (from the Royal Albert Hall)Release date: 2010-07-13; DVD
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
Bach, Koopman - Bach Cantatas - Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & ChoirKultur; Release date: 2007-06-26; DVD
Best price: $13.59
Price in other shops: