Episode 345. A Lenten Litany of Bach Contraltos
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Over the course of the past year, I have done a number of episodes on contraltos singing a wide range of material. Toward the end of last year, I did a program on Bach contraltos, which featured just a few of the best (and my favorite) contraltos in this genre. At the time, I had an overflowing cornucopia of material and today I have reorganized and expanded that material to bring you a set of Bach arias particularly appropriate for the Lenten Season. And thus I present to you today, arias from the Passions sung by Julia Hamari, Marian Anderson (pictured above), and Friedel Beckmann, but also cantata arias by such eminent contraltos as Kathleen Ferrier, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Carol Brice, Jennie Tourel, Carolyn Watkinson, Ria Bollen, Brigitte Fassbaender, Norma Lerer, Alfreda Hodgson, Birgit Finnilä, Elena Obraztsova (yes, you read correctly!), Anna Reynolds, and Else Brems. Non-contralto guest appearances include Arleen Augér, Peter Schreier, and Aldo Baldin. If you are not a Christian, fear not, for behold, there is much in Bach’s music that draws the listener in on any number of levels, not just (or even primarily) a theological one.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
All selections composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Et exultavit (Magnificat). Carol Brice, Daniel Saidenberg, Columbia Broadcasting Concert Orchestra [1949]
Ich freue mich auf meinem Tod (Ich habe genug, BWV 82). Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Craig Smith, The Orchestra of Emmanuel Music [2002]
Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz (Liebster Gott, wann werde ich sterben, BWV 8). Brigitte Fassbaender, Diethard Hellmann, Bachorchester Mainz [ca. 1970]
Vergiss mein nicht, BWV 505. Kathleen Ferrier, John Newmark [live NYC Town Hall 08.I.50]
Ach, unaussprechlich ist die Not, (Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116a). Jennie Tourel, Robert Bloom, Bernard Greenhouse, Erich Itor Kahn [1950s]
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?… Er kann und will dich lassen nicht… Ei nun! So will ich auch recht sanfte ruhn (Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?, BWV 138). Ria Bollen, Aldo Baldin, Arleen Augér, Helmuth Rilling, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Gächinger Kantorei [1978]
Wie furchtsam wankten meine Schritte (Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33). Else Brems, Mogens Wöldike, Danish Chamber Orchestra [1955]
Zweig und Äste (Zerreisset, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft [Der zufriedengestellte Äolus], BWV 205). Carolyn Watkinson, Peter Schreier, Eckhart Haupt, Berlin Kammerorchester [1979]
Ach, bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben (Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11). Alfreda Hodgson, Philip Ledger, English Chamber Orchestra [1981]
Ein ungefärbt Gemüte (Ein ungefärbt Gemüte, BWV 24). Anna Reynolds, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Orchester [1976]
In Jesu Demut kann ich Trost (Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV 151). Birgit Finnilä, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1968]
Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen (Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen, BWV 81). Norma Lerer, Helmuth Rilling, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart [1971]
Von den Stricken meiner Sünden (Johannes-Passion, BWV 245). Julia Hamari, György Lehel, Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra [1971]
Du lieber Heiland du… Buss’ und Reu’ (Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244). Friedel Beckmann, Günther Ramin, Gewandhausorchester [1941]
Es ist vollbracht [sung in English] (Johannes-Passion, BWV 245). Marian Anderson, Samuel Mayes, Charles O’Connell, Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra [1941]
Saget mir geschwinde (Kommt eilet und lauschet [Osteroratorium], BWV 249). Elena Obraztsova, Adolf Bruck, Chamber Ensemble of Soloists of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra [1976]