Christoph Spearing Review – Bach Youth: The Cantata

Cologne conductor Christoph Spering takes his time with his project to record all of Bach’s cantatas. And that’s a good thing, because the now-released 3-CD box set containing a total of nine cantatas from Bach’s second year also demonstrates the qualities that have distinguished his previously released recordings. In addition to the skills of his ensembles “The New Orchestra” and “Chorus Musicus Cologne”, these include good soloist selection skills and a remarkably non-dogmatic approach to historical performance practice. Spering adapts parameters such as tempo and register to the expressive content of the individual cantatas, with more differentiation than usual, especially in the continuo accompaniment. Nothing sounds forced, the music flows in a relaxed manner, and the sound of this recording from the chamber music hall Deutschlandfunk is also excellent.

Bach Youth: How Beautiful is the Shining of the Morning Star BWV 1, How Do You Want to Grieve Yourself BWV 107, Dear Emmanuel, the Pious Duke BWV 123 and others

Erika Tandiono and Yeri Suh (soprano), Sofia Pavone and Marie Seidler (alto), Daniel Johansen and Georg Poplotz (tenor), Tobias Berndt and Daniel Ochoa (bass), Musicköln Choir, New Orchestra, Christoph Speiring (conductor)
German Harmonia Mundi