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From the opening chorus, it’s clear that Raphaël Pichon and his Pygmalion ensemble are sensitive to nuance. They present a work filled with details and colours that would be seen as unusual in the contemporary era, which tends to be characterised by musical breadth and density of sound. The soft inflections, the sudden brightening of textures and the chamber choir sound gives this version of Passion something unique. In retrospect, this composition has become the epitome of 18th century religious dramatic expression. Bach’s work here is somewhat similar to the Passions, composed by Georg Philipp Telemann, though these are smaller in number and are sometimes more varied in terms of instruments. It’s also in keeping with the tormented outlook of Membra Jesu nostri by Dietrich Buxtehude.
There are some staggering moments coupled with a kind of unknown and unexpected poetry. The pre-drama and post-drama are home to the most intense moments of Raphaël Pichon’s proposal, which culminates in chorales such as O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (No. 54) and Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden (No. 62). The latter offers a sublime moment in which we viscerally feel Christianity’s deep distress; we hear it sob and weep before it finds relief in Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen (No. 63). Just a few moments prior, the recitative and aria that comes before the Golgotha Ach, Golgatha… Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand (No. 60) finds a striking expression of truth in Lucile Richardot’s haunting voice – and she was already disturbing in the opening Buß und Reu (No. 6).
By choosing simplicity and raw poetry, the drama lacks the use of contrasting accents and the power of the incredible versions by Nikolaus Harnoncourt (recorded in Das Alte Werk, 1970 and 2000). The soloists are magnificent here, especially the women! Julian Prégardien’s mastery, commitment and loyalty to the original word is nothing if not impressive: he brings a gritty humanity to this Passion, something rarely heard since Wunderlich, Haefliger and Equiluz. © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz
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Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244, Prima parte (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Maîtrise de Radio France, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Lucile Richardot, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Lucile Richardot, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Finger, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Hana Blazikova, MainArtist, SopranoSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Finger, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Etienne Bazola, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Reinoud Van Mechelen, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Georg Finger, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Lucile Richardot, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Maîtrise de Radio France, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
DISC 2
Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244, Seconda parte (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Lucile Richardot, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Tim Mead, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Maïlys De Villoutreys, MainArtist, SopranoSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Etienne Bazola, MainArtist, BassVocals - Perrine Devillers, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Lucile Richardot, MainArtist, ContraltoVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Etienne Bazola, MainArtist, BassVocals - Georg Finger, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Stéphane Degout, MainArtist, BassVocals - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist - Sabine Devieilhe, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Christian Immler, MainArtist, BassVocals - Julian Pregardien, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Pygmalion, MainArtist, MusicalEnsemble - Raphaël Pichon, Conductor, MainArtist
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Album review
From the opening chorus, it’s clear that Raphaël Pichon and his Pygmalion ensemble are sensitive to nuance. They present a work filled with details and colours that would be seen as unusual in the contemporary era, which tends to be characterised by musical breadth and density of sound. The soft inflections, the sudden brightening of textures and the chamber choir sound gives this version of Passion something unique. In retrospect, this composition has become the epitome of 18th century religious dramatic expression. Bach’s work here is somewhat similar to the Passions, composed by Georg Philipp Telemann, though these are smaller in number and are sometimes more varied in terms of instruments. It’s also in keeping with the tormented outlook of Membra Jesu nostri by Dietrich Buxtehude.
There are some staggering moments coupled with a kind of unknown and unexpected poetry. The pre-drama and post-drama are home to the most intense moments of Raphaël Pichon’s proposal, which culminates in chorales such as O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (No. 54) and Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden (No. 62). The latter offers a sublime moment in which we viscerally feel Christianity’s deep distress; we hear it sob and weep before it finds relief in Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen (No. 63). Just a few moments prior, the recitative and aria that comes before the Golgotha Ach, Golgatha… Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand (No. 60) finds a striking expression of truth in Lucile Richardot’s haunting voice – and she was already disturbing in the opening Buß und Reu (No. 6).
By choosing simplicity and raw poetry, the drama lacks the use of contrasting accents and the power of the incredible versions by Nikolaus Harnoncourt (recorded in Das Alte Werk, 1970 and 2000). The soloists are magnificent here, especially the women! Julian Prégardien’s mastery, commitment and loyalty to the original word is nothing if not impressive: he brings a gritty humanity to this Passion, something rarely heard since Wunderlich, Haefliger and Equiluz. © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 68 track(s)
- Total length: 02:40:51
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Raphaël Pichon, Pygmalion, Julian Prégardien, Stéphane Degout, Sabine Devieilhe, Lucile Richardot, Christian Immler, Reinoud van Mechelen, Maitrise De
- Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
- Label: harmonia mundi
- Genre: Classical Sacred Vocal Music Sacred Oratorios
2022 harmonia mundi 2022 harmonia mundi
Distinctions:
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