Episode 380. Hermann Prey Sings Bach

Episode 380. Hermann Prey Sings Bach

The esteemed, indeed beloved, German baritone Hermann Prey died seventeen years ago already on July 22, 1998. I want to remember him today by celebrating a cornerstone of his repertoire: the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. I’ve been playing a lot of Bach recently on the podcast, as his music is one of the few lifelines that I can rely upon in the chaos of today’s world. But I’ve been focusing in large part on contraltos performing his music which leaves an entire repertoire insufficiently explored. I’m not sure why (although I could hazard a guess) why Prey’s significance has been downplayed as certain other historical German baritones (IYKYK!) are overvalued and over-represented. Prey had a voice of profound beauty and power, a technical security that is sometimes mind-boggling, a mellifluous legato combined with a refined connection to the supremacy of the word (even – and especially – in Bach), but above all, a humanity and humility that make his performances and recordings of this repertoire unmatched (and possibly unmatchable). Represented are individual arias from the cantatas and Passions as well as a complete late-career performance of Ich habe genug, my favorite among Bach’s supreme masterpieces.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

All selections are by Johann Sebastian Bach and are sung by Hermann Prey.

Recitative. Die Friede sei mit dir (Die Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158). Friedrich-Wilhelm Tebbe, Mitglieder des Niedersächsischen Staatsorchesters [live 17.II.1981]

Aria. Auf, auf, mit hellem Schall (Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128). Maurice André, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1971]

Cantata Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56.

• Aria. Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen. Karl Richter, Wiener Symphoniker [live Wien 03.VI.1970]
• Recitative. Ich stehe fertig und bereit… Chorale. Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder. Yehudi Menuhin, Menuhin Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers [1967]

Recit. Was ist’s, daß du mich gesuchet… Aria. Hier, in meines Vaters Stätte (Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32). Saschko Gawriloff, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1970]

Arioso. Betrachte, meine Seel’ (Johannes-Passion, BWV 245/19). Konrad Ragossnig, Karl Münchinger, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester [1974]

Aria. Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen (Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248/47). Kurt Kalmus, Eugen Jochum, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks [1972]

Cantata Ich habe genug, BWV 82. Liviu Varcol, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1987]

• Aria. Ich habe genug.
• Recitative. Ich habe genug
• Aria. Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen
• Recitative. Mein Gott! wann kommt das schöne: Nun!
• Aria. Ich freue mich auf meinem Tod. Willy Gerlach, Kurt Thomas, Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig [1961]

Recit (Duet). Ich reiche dir die Hand… Aria. Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen (Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57). Elly Ameling, Helmut Winschermann, Deutsche Bachsolisten [1970]

Recitative. Am Abend, das es kühle war… Aria. Mache dich, mein Herze, rein (Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244/64, 65). Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Consortium Musicum [1968]