J.S. Bach | Missae breves

CD-Kritiken

As for recordings, this new release from Cantus Cölln containing the four complete extant masses has it all: terrific sound, smart tempos, clear articulation, artful ensemble, and vibrant, energetic performances. Konrad Junghänel‘s chorus - two on a part - strikes a nice balance between Herreweghe‘s 18 voices (Virgin) and the one-to-a-part rendition on Chandos. The soloists - very important in these works - are all very good, and the orchestra enlivens every aspect of the performances, especially notable for the contributions of winds and horns. No matter how you look at it, this is first-rate Bach, and first-rate music that never should be relegated to adjunct status, and these excellent performances are proof enough.
Classics today, David Vernier

[on the Mass in F Major, one of the four existing ‘Missae breves’] Cantus Cölln adopts the theories proposed by Bach pioneers Joshua Rifkin and Andrew Parrott about the small size of Bach’s choir, featuring four principal singers as ‘concertists’ and a few extra “ripenists” for reinforcement in tutti passages. The vocal ensemble is among the very best, not only in the adoption of musicological thinking about perfoming forces, but also in the fact that this serves an aethetic end: there are no passengers because everybody contributes equally to the transparent detail and conversational personality in Bach’s music. The shading and shapening of the music make the busy inventiveness of Bach’s genius clear for all to hear. Contrapuntal detail speaks more clearly than in many other version, and it is obvious that the musicians are listening crarefully to each strand in the music. Konrad Junghänel brings finesse and clarity to the music, but there is also plenty of excitement (such as in the splendid Gloria, with playful horns and oboes). Cantus Cölln’s unity of approaches between voices and instruments is outstanding, and the Kyrie is performed with matchless flexibility and magnificently blended cadences. ...this set is rounded off by all three of the other short masses. It’s clear first choice.
David Vickers, Building a library/BBC Music Magazine, October 2008

Nun gesellt sich Cantus Cölln zur illustren Interpretenschar und darf für sich in Anspruch nehmen, nach seiner Einspielung der h-moll-Messe von 2003 wieder mit einer Referenzaufnahme in Sachen Bach aufwarten zu können. Denn den acht Sängerinnen und Sängern sowie den rund zwei Dutzend Instrumentalisten gelingt unter der Leitung Konrad Junghänels eine vollkommen schlüssige, klanglich beeindruckende Interpetation.
Bernd Heyder, Concerto 2007