In the midst of a lot of depressing news about the recording industry, there are a few bright lights. We are living in a time when no fewer than *three* complete recordings of the Bach cantatas are underway. The Ton Koopman set is three volumes (6 CDs) shy of completion; both Gardiner’s and Suzuki’s have further to go.
And yet not all is frabjous. In two cases–the Koopman and Gardiner sets–the original sponsoring recording companies pulled out of the project. Well, it should be said in all fairness that Erato didn’t so much pull out of the Koopman project as that Erato went under. But Deutsche Grammophon definitely pulled out of the Gardiner set, even though all of the recordings had actually been made during their year 2000 pilgrimage to perform all of the sacred cantatas.
However, we’re living in a newer world and so both Koopman and Gardiner were able to form their own labels and distribute their recordings themselves. I love the way that both Koopman and Gardiner offer theirs on a subscription basis, so once in a while you get this cool little gift in your mailbox.
Just last week it was cantata-time again; a new Gardiner showed up in the mailbox, and Suzuki’s group had put out another volume. By serendipity, both recordings featured Cantata BWV 3, which has one of the most marvelous opening movements of any of the cantatas. Bach pushes chromaticism almost to the breaking point, but manages to stay on the side of the angels throughout. Both recordings are superb, with I think Gardiner’s having the overall nod due to the poised gravity with which he takes the opening movement.
But we have three sets of cantatas coming along, and all of them are wonderful. Suzuki is probably the most consistent throughout; there’s a certain level of clarity and care that he always achieves and often surpasses. Koopman can occasionally err on the side of dullness, but not often. Gardiner’s are a bit more eclectic, coming as they do from live performances with all the attendant joys and pitfalls pertaining thereto.
What wonderful gifts they are…the music and the performances.