From Bologna to Bach to Burbank, with Love!

Coro Euridice, Bologna Italy

Thanks Jeremy, for touching upon the Bach Cantatas -- or Lieders, as I got to know them when I first started singing them, many moons ago.
I was still a teenager, in my hometown of Bologna, Italy, when I knocked on the door of the Coro Euridice's headquarters. I was invited to sit and listen to the rehearsal. After a nicely arranged version of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, I remember the surge of emotion and the inner voice screaming: "I want to be part of this!", as the Coro Euridice shifted into a series of beautiful Bach Lieders. Christ lag in Todes Banden was one of them, and there were many more. Bach was my first introduction to choral music, and also a chance to shatter my preconceived notion that German was a "hard sounding" language. Far from it! I discovered melodious sweetness through Bach and was inspired to start learning it. I should mention that the Coro Euridice was established in 1880 and is still currently directed by the great Pier Paolo Scattolin. Maybe one day the choirs will sing together!

Silvia Pompei

Suzuki - a Must for Bach Choral Lovers

I wanted to turn on fellow choir members to the wonderful world of Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan. Perhaps many of you have heard these performers; for some years they've been putting out excellent recordings of the complete Bach Cantatas. But in case you haven't....

For decades, the “period” performance movement has been dominated by English conductors and ensembles, such as John Eliot Gardiner who has also released an exceptional set of the cantatas. But Suzuki has moved into the very top ranks as a choral conductor, and also as an organist and harpsichordist. I am second to none in my admiration for Gardiner, and have many of his recordings. (John Tveit is also a Gardiner lover.) But Suzuki is great alternative. Gardiner may be unsurpassed in rhythm and panache, but Suzuki’s cantata and other choral performances of Bach have been rightly praised for their exceptional lyrical beauty and spirituality.

As a prime example, Suzuki has just released a truly beautiful recording of Bach’s B minor mass. It’s available on Amazon, of course, here, but his recordings are imports on the BIS label, and thus rather expensive. But if you join eMusic.com you can download them quite cheaply. A monthly subscription of $14.99 will get you a whole bunch of them (and then you can cancel if you like!)

For Bach lovers, getting to know Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan is a must!