| Comments: | Henk Moorlag said:
Recommended.
Andrew Block said:
I've been doing a detailed comparison between Gardiner's and Koopman's recordings. Although each has their own characteristics, they are remarkably similar throughout in tempos, balance, and sound. Wheras Gardiner tends to follow a slightly more straightforward approach, Koopman adds little injections of momentum and nuance that put a slightly different spin on the music. For example, in the chorus' opening three "Herr's," Gardiner's choir gives each one the same attack and velocity, wheras Koopman tailors each "Herr" a little differently to suggest a sort of direction -- in this case they sound more frightening than Gardiner's. I like that. Also, the ABO's choir is so pure and perfect, there are times where they are literally breathtaking. The technical aspects of the recording are excellent. Koopman really has a way of bringing Bach to life. When it boils down to preference, I'd take the Koopman. Yet being stuck on the proverbial desert island with Gardiner wouldn't be bad, either. |
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