BACH. Cantatas for Solo Alto. BWV 35,54,170. A.Scholl. Collegium Vocale, P.Herreweghe

BACH. Cantatas for Solo Alto. BWV 35,54,170. A.Scholl. Collegium Vocale, P.Herreweghe

Johann Sebastian Bach Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust BWV 170 Widerstehe doch der Sünde BWV 54 Geist und Seele wird verwirret BWV 35

Gramophone

"Scholl is on top form...[and] sings his music with warmth and technical fluency, generating a high level of interest for heart and mind alike. Recommended."

BBC Music Magazine

"The Scholl/Herreweghe CD is distinguished by its marriage of beautiful sound and expressive intensity. The richly nuanced orchestral playing remains forceful throughout and Scholl imbues his beguiling voice with a fervent conviction. The haunting BWV 170 is superbly done, boasting splendid organ from Markus Märkl, makes a thrilling climax."

Performance FIVE STARS

Sound FIVE STARS

Classic CD

"Scholl proves endlessly imaginative and delightfully spontaneous even in the most demanding of arias, spinning his voice out with seamless fidelity to Bach's extraordinarily long-breathed lines while illuminating the meaning and imagery of the cantata texts. Listen, for example, to his delivery of the words "tausend Schmerzen" and "Satansränken" in the aria "Wie jammern mich doch die verkehrten Herzen", their fearful sounds and meaning crafted with almost Shakespearean guile. In addition, to Scholl's captivating work, this disc merits its place in the super league of Baroque recordings thanks to the all-too-rare perceptiveness of Philippe Herreweghe's conducting and the obvious rapport of his admirable Orchestre du Collegium Vocale."

A perfect marriage of intelligence and expression.

FIVE STARS

NPR's Performance Today

"You can hear Scholl's personal delight in the music as he enjoys every line, and the cleanest articulation since the late great soprano Arleen Auger...Philippe Herreweghe and the Collegium Vocale Orchestra are virtuosic and conversational. These exquisite musicians all take their turns dancing with Scholl's graceful voice."

Schwann Opus

"Andreas Scholl is a sensation in Europe, and one can see why: his pure yet robust sound rings out with an effortless clarity that gets under your skin. He is a natural for these richly varied sacred cantatas for solo alto."

The Dallas Morning News

"A gold mine...These performances star the 30-year-old new sensation among countertenors, Andreas Scholl. His voice has more body and richness than most in his vocal category, but it's also enormously polished, sensitive and sophisticated. The three cantatas are all musically outstanding. Two have prominent parts for solo organ-they're virtually Bachian equivalents of the Handel organ concertos, played excitingly by soloist Markus Markl...Under Mr. Herreweghe's knowing hand, the orchestra plays with finesse and energy. This is one of the most enjoyable Bach recordings in a long time."

Fanfare

"The combination of the world's most bankable countertenor and consistently satisfying of today's Bach cantata conductors will probably be self-recommending to many collectors...Scholl possesses what is almost certainly the most naturally beautiful and fluently produced voice of any male alto today...he is more than equipped to cope with the demanding blend of line and virtuosity that Bach asked of his unknown alto in the Leipzig cantatas...these are exceptional performances that earn a confident recommendation."

Classical Insites

"His voice is sweet, yet substantial...[He] seduces masterfully with gorgeous, mellifluous tones... Herreweghe molds the instrumental lines with expertise and feeling...this is a wondrous accomplishment."

Classica ( May

". c'est une vision profonde et pleine de retenue de ces cantates que nous offre Herreweghe ; le disque est hautement recommandable."