CCMusic.com

Alto returns the acclaimed 1996 recordings of J.S. Bach's St. John Passion by the King's College Choir, Cambridge under the direction of Stephen Cleobury, and joined by an impressive array of Baroque specialists headed by the tenor John Mark Ainsley (Evangelist), the bass Stephen Richardson as Christ, soprano Catherine Bott, alto Michael Chance, and baritone Stephen Vance. The orchestra, the Brandenburg Consort, founded by Roy Goodman, was one of the leading period-instrument ensembles specializing in the music J.S. Bach and his contemporaries. St. John Passion was first performed in 1724 as part of a church service during Holy Week at St. Thomas' Church in Leipzig with other items being added the following year, included in this recording ('1725 setting'), although later Bach reverted to the original 1724 version. With it's trial scenes St John Passion is noticeably more dramatic than the St. Matthew Passion which followed a couple of years later. "A lively, well-paced version with original instruments and excellent team of characterful soloists, with the fresh-toned (King's Choir) boy trebles adding dramatic bite. What especially distinguishes this set is that the alternative numbers that Bach wrote for a revival in 1725, are given in an appendix, including the Chorale fantasy in place of the opening... Most enjoyable" -Penguin Guide, 3 stars "fine contributions especially from Stephen Varcoe, and an exceptionally immediate and affecting 'Es ist vollbracht' from Michael Chance." -Gramophone