Episode 338. Ameling and Friends Sing Bach
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As a belated 92nd birthday tribute to our beloved Elly Ameling, I offer another episode of the Elly and Johann Show which features her in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. If you twisted my arm, I might opine that she is simply the ideal Bach soprano, and these recordings, made between 1961 and 1981, stem from her absolute prime. In this episode, the majority of the works featured (from various cantatas, oratorios, masses, and passions), are duets, with a few trios and even a quartet thrown in for good measure. Siegmund Nimsgern, Werner Krenn, Hans Sotin, Birgit Finnilä, Yvonne Minton, Helen Watts, Elisabeth Cooymans, Peter Pears, Samuel Ramey, Norma Procter, Tom Krause, Gerald English, Marga Höffgen, and Fritz Wunderlich lend their voices in harmony with our Elly. The featured recordings teeter between early period performance efforts and my preferred “full-figured Bach” performance practice. Without exception however, the style is never heavy, never thuddy, but rather gracious, flowing, and mellifluous. The episode is capped with a stunning 1966 live performance of the soprano aria from the Matthew-Passion in which Ameling, just for a moment, restores my faith in humanity.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
All works are composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and feature Elly Ameling as soprano soloist.
Chorus with Soprano Obbligato: Es ist der alte Bund… Ja, komm, Herr Jesu (Actus Tragicus, BWV 106). Hans Thamm, Hans Martin Linde, Günter Höller, Reinhold Johannes Buhl, Johannes Koch, August Wenzinger, Hannelore Müller, Windsbacher Knabenchor [radio recording 1961]
Duet. Mer han en neue Oberkeet (Mer han en neue Oberkeet [Peasant Cantata], BWV 212). Siegmund Nimsgern, Franzjosef Maier, Collegium Aureum [1968]
Recitative à 2. Wohl aber uns (Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130). Werner Krenn, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande [1969]
Duet. Nun verschwinden alle Plagen (Liebster Jesu mein Verlangen, BWV 32). Siegmund Nimsgern, Helmut Hucke, Hermann Schroeder, Collegium Musicum des WDR [radio recording 1967]
Duet. Gott, ach Gott, verlaß die Deinen nimmermehr (Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79). Hans Sotin, Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Consortium Musicum [1967]
Duet. Domine Deus (Missa Brevis in G Major, BWV 236). Birgit Finnilä, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1969]
Duet. Domine Deus (Mass in b minor, BWV 232). Werner Krenn, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Wiener Singakademiechor [1970]
Recitative and Duet. Mein Schatz, erraten!… Wir gehn nun, wo der Dudelsack (Men hat en neue Oberkeet [Peasant Cantata], BWV 212). Siegmund Nimsgern, Franzjosef Maier, Collegium Aureum [1968]
Duet. Wann kommst du, mein Heil? (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140). Hans Sotin, Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Consortium Musicum [1967]
Duet. Mein Freund ist mein (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140). Samuel Ramey, Neil Black, Raymond Leppard, English Chamber Orchestra [1981]
Duet. Christe eleison (Mass in b minor, BWV 232). Yvonne Minton, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1970]
Duet. Et in unum Dominum (Mass in b minor, BWV 232). Helen Watts, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1970]
Duet. Gedenk’ an Jesu bittern Tod (Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101). Helen Watts, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande [1968]
Duet. Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36). Norma Procter, Kurt Thomas, Collegium Musicum des WDR [radio recording 1965]
Trio. Suscepit Israel (Magnificat, BWV 243). Hanneke Van Bork, Helen Watts, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1969]
Duet. Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen (Weihnachts-Oratorium, BWV 248/3). Tom Krause, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1966]
Trio. Ach, wann wird die Zeit erscheinen? (Weihnachts-Oratorium, BWV 248/5). Peter Pears, Helen Watts. Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1966]
Duet with Chorus. So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen (Matthäus Passion, BWV 244). Elisabeth Cooymans, Hein Jordans, Brabants Orkest, Philips Philharmonisch Koor [live Eindhoven 06.IV.71]
Recit and Aria. Er hat uns alle wohlgetan… Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben (Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244). Koos Verheil, Everhard Spelberg, Gijs Reijns, Charles de Wolff, Resedentie-Orkest [live 08.IV.66] Click here for YouTube Link
Quartet with Chorus obbligato. Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh’ gebracht (Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244). Marga Höffgen, Fritz Wunderlich, Tom Krause, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kamemrorchester, Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chor [1964]
Trio. Die Katze läßt das Mausen nicht (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht [Coffee Cantata], BWV 211]. Gerald English, Siegmund Nimsgern, Franzjosef Maier, Collegium Aureum [1968]