KATHLEEN FERRIER BACH St MATTHEW PASSION Record 78rpm

$

89

I am currently selling a series of great Richard Wagner and classic European 78 rpm orchestral recordings on all the great European labels:

It is my great pleasure, that I can offer something truely special to the discerning Bach Collector:

The complete recording of Bach's St Matthew Passion BWV 244, the last complete recording on 78 rpm disks, and the first recording by great contralto

KATHLEEN FERRIER.

BACH: 'St Matthew Passion'.

 Kathleen Ferrier, Eric Greene, Elsie Suddaby, Henry Cummings. The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra. Dr Reginald Jacques

To look at the recorded history of the St. Matthew Passion, it is striking, that the work was commercially issued no less than 4 times on 78s, it's 3 + hour playing time making this a massive recording undertaking, and an expensive commitment for the buyer. Curiously enough, Bachs Johannespassion was not recorded until the 1950s by Reminton.

Here the list of Matthaeuspassionen on 78:

1

J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion Victor

David McKinley Williams

Choir of St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City

Soprano: Ruth Shaffner; Alto: Pearl Benedict-Jones; Tenor: Allan Jones; Baritone: Donald Pirnie; Bass: Frank Cuthberg

Victor Set

Around 1930

24 12" 78 RPM sides

Omits 6 - 10, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27 - 29, 34 - 36, 38 - 39, 46, 48, 49, 51, 57, 58, 60, 61, 64-68, 70, 74 - 76; abridges 37, 47, 50, 52, 59, 73, 78

2

J.S. Bach: The Passion According to St. Matthew/RCA Victor

Serge Koussevitzky

Harvard Glee Club & Radcliffe Choral Society / Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tenor [Evangelist]: John Priebe; Bass [Jesus]: Frederick Lechner; Soprano: Jeannette Vreeland; Contralto: Kathryn Meisle; Bass [Arias]: Keith Faulkner

RCA Victor / Rockport Records

Mar 1937

TT: 192:32

Sung in English. Recorded live at Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, USA.

3

J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion - Deutsche Grammophone/Polydor

Bruno Kittel

Bruno-Kittel-Chor & Ein Knabenchor / Berliner Philharmoniker

Tenor [Evangelist, Arias]: Walther Ludwig; Bass-Baritone [Jesus]: Hans-Hermann Nissen; Soprano [1st & 2nd Magd, Arias]: Tilla Briem; Alto [Arias]: Gusta Hammer; Bass [Judas, Petrus, Pilatus, Hoherepriester, Arias]: Fred Drissen

Aug-Sep 1942

 TT: 132:59

Omits 19, 23, 28, 29, 38, 40, 41, 48 - 51, 55, 61, 64 - 66, 70, 75; abridges 10, 12, 34, 35, 37, 39, 52, 54, 59, 63, 67, 73, 76, 78. Recorded in Berlin.
Buy this album at:

4

J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion/Decca

Reginald Jacques

The Bach Choir / The Jacques Orchestra

Soprano: Elsie Suddaby; Contralto: Kathleen Ferrier; Tenor: Eric Greene; Bass [Jesus]: Henry Cummings; Bass [Arias]: William Parsons; Bass [Judas, Peter]: Gordon Clinton

Decca

June, Aug 1947

Omits Nos. 11, 21, 65, 66; Abridged Nos. 10, 12. The work is revised by Elgar & Atkins, sung in English, and the translation was done by Troutbeck & Johnson. Recorded at Kingsway Hall, London, England.

We have been left all too few recordings of Kathleen Ferrier's inimitable voice but this outstanding complete English version of Bach's greatest passion is indeed a treasure-trove. It personifies the style and traditions of a past age in Bach performance and is also a tribute to Dr Reginald Jacques who was bold enough to perform and record the first complete version of this work. The soloists were also deeply steeped in English pre-war choral tradition so the performance is another worthy window on the past in different ways. There is also a certain hallowed air about this recording, a sense of discovery and sacred affection for the music that only arises from spontaneity.

Most period-performance purists will definitely rule this re-issue out-of-court for its solemn pondering and clearly embellished scoring, but to my mind no recording of this ubiquitous Passion comes closer to the heart of Bach's divine conception. Ferrier is simply outstanding in the title role, her vocal declamation and fiery portrayal of the anguish and suffering that she herself was to experience is chillingly convincing. She is matched however by an outstanding team of soloists, all of which are in direct or close contact with her heart-rending agonizations. None is more convincing than Elsie Suddaby, a deeply committed and authoritative Bachian interpreter.

She is more than a match for Jacques' ponderous tempi and her shaping and inflexion in her many arias are shatteringly spiritual and inspired. Alan Blyth rightly singles her out for praise in his booklet essay. Blyth also recalls the nostalgic effect that Eric Greene and Henry Cummings used to have in their innumerable performances of this Passion at Eastertide in years gone by. Both artists are completely at one with the various tragic musical permutations and their lifelong experience of singing this magnificent work is never in doubt. I cannot praise the wonderful singing of the Bach Choir too highly, such is their rapt spirituality and alert attendance to all matters choral. This was indeed an ensemble trained to the highest standards of artistic perfection by their inspired conductor and leader.

As a parting note, it would be appropriate to praise the fine sound secured by Kenneth Wilkinson and Victor Olof, both giants of their time and representatives of the golden age of Decca recordings. An outstanding memorial of Kathleen Ferrier, one of those select group of legends 'whom the Gods love'.

A series of great Opera performances, from 1904 G&Ts to 1941 German Occupied Denmark's greatest singer

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A note on grading Victrola/ Pathe/ Shellac 78 rpm discs:

Pls note that I try to be extremely conservative and consistent in my grading. All records are graded with the same criteria, regardless of genre.

I noticed that my grading seems to be more conservative than what I have seen from other sellers, so here some notes.

Surface VISUAL GRADING:

EXCELLENT - clean and shiny, as new. E minus is the same, with light scuffing.

Very Good Plus - Clean, with a little more scuffing. Some grooves spots may have some light greying. Little if any distortion.

Very Good - a clean copy, some scuffing, some greying on a single groove or a few small groove bands. Enjoyable record, maybe light distortion on some top notes.

=> Everything up to here is a great and enjoyable record

Very Good Minus - May have areas of visible wear, may have some scuffing or lightly dulled surface. Still a great record, but ticks, pops and some distortion.

Good Plus - a worn and scuffed copy. May have other defects separately stated. Plays well, but with noise, may require filtering.

All other defects (if any: Chips, cracks, scratches, lamination cracks, label damage, needle digs) will be stated SEPARATELY.

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