Stephan MacLeod – Bach: Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244 (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

This recording was made in April 2019 at the Ernest-Ansermet Studio in Geneva, after five concerts in Switzerland during the preceding days. The desire to be as faithful as possible to the rhythm of the drama of the Passion and to the evidence of the musical sequences, which is easier to feel during a live performance than in front of the relative abstraction of the microphones, as well as a non-negligible time constraint (three and a half days in the studio for a work of 160 minutes), pushed the members of Gli Angeli Genève to record long takes, sometimes including up to 10 or 12 minutes of music, thus getting as close as possible to the feeling of a concert.

In concert, with small vocal groups, Gli Angeli Genève systematically places the singers in front of the instruments regardless of repertoire, so as to give speech in music the most prominent place possible. When recording, since the audience’s crucial role cannot be replaced by the microphones, the musicians place ourselves in a large circle, all facing each other. They can see each other playing, singing, vibrating, breathing and reacting. The idea of reaction is central to this work where, when the action of the story is suspended, it is immediately replaced by emotion and poetic as well as musical beauty that Matthew’s story inspired in Bach and Picander. Airs as well as chorales. And within this circle they can react together, engage in dialogue, and see themselves feel the drama and powerful affects that mark the work relentlessly. And then they can share the pleasure and sometimes the awe – so beautiful is the music – of being able to live all this together.

Forming a circle to make this music and observing the extraordinary musicians of Gli Angeli Genève at work led Stephan MacLeod (the conductor) to realise the extent to which The Saint Matthew Passion has structured the career and relationship to music of many of his colleagues.

Tracklist:
1. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 1 Chorus “Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen” (Coro I-II – Soprano in ripieno) (07:12)
2. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 2 Evangelista/Jesus “Da Jesu diese Rede” (00:40)
3. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 3 Choral “Herzliebster Jesu” (Coro I-II) (00:48)
4. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 4a Evangelista “Da versammleten sich die Hohenpriester” (00:25)
5. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 4b Chorus “Ja nicht auf das Fest” (Coro I-II) (00:15)
6. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 4c Evangelista “Da nun Jesus war zu Bethanien” (00:30)
7. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 4d Chorus “Wozu dienet dieser Unrat” (Coro I) (00:28)
8. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 4e Evangelista/Jesus “Da das Jesu merkete” (01:17)
9. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 5 Recitativo “Du lieber Heiland du” (Alto I) (00:52)
10. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 6 Aria “Buß und Reu” (Alto I) (03:55)
11. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 7 Evangelista/Judas “Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer” (00:32)
12. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 8 Aria “Blute nur” (Soprano II) (04:18)
13. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 9a Evangelista “Aber am ersten Tage” (00:12)
14. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 9b Chorus “Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten” (Coro I) (00:21)
15. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 9c Evangelista/Jesus “Er sprach: Gehet hin” (01:08)
16. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 9d Evangelista “Und sie wurden sehr betrübt” (00:12)
17. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 9e Chorus “Herr, bin ich’s” (Coro I) (00:13)
18. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 10. Choral “Ich bin’s, ich sollte büßen” (Coro I-II) (00:47)
19. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 11 Evangelista/Jesus/Judas “Er antwortete und sprach” (02:51)
20. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 12 Recitativo “Wiewohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt” (Soprano I) (01:16)
21. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 13 Aria “Ich will dir mein Herze schenken” (Soprano I) (03:17)
22. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 14 Evangelista/Jesus “Und da sie den Lobgesang beendet hatten” (01:05)
23. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 15 Choral “Erkenne mich, mein Hüter” (Coro I-II) (01:10)
24. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 16 Evangelista/Petrus/Jesus “Petrus aber antwortete” (01:02)
25. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 17 Choral “Ich will hier bei dir stehen” (Coro I-II) (01:04)
26. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 18 Evangelista/Jesus “Da kam Jesus mit ihnen zu einem Hofe (01:46)
27. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 19 Recitativo “O Schmerz!”/Choral “Was ist die Ursach” (Tenor I, Coro II) (01:41)
28. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 20 Aria “Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen”/Chorus “So schlafen unsre Sünden ein” (Tenor I, Coro II) (05:05)
29. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 21 Evangelista/Jesus “Und ging hin ein wenig” (00:42)
30. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 22 Recitativo “Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder” (Basso II) (00:50)
31. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 23 Aria “Gerne will ich mich bequemen” (Basso II) (04:01)
32. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 24 Evangelista/Jesus “Und er kam zu seinen Jüngern” (01:12)
33. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 25 Choral “Was mein Gott will” (Coro I-II) (01:03)
34. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 26 Evangelista/Jesus/Judas “Und er kam und fand sie schlafend” (02:28)
35. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 27a Aria “So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen” (Soprano I, Alto I, Coro II) (04:00)
36. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 27b Chorus “Sind Blitze, sind Donner” (Coro I-II) (01:05)
37. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 28 Evangelista/Jesus “Und siehe, einer aus denen” (02:18)
38. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 29 Choral “O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß” (Coro I-II – Soprano in ripieno) (05:37)
39. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 30 Aria “Ach, nun ist mein Jesus hin”/Chorus “Wo ist denn dein Freund hingegangen” (Alto I, Coro II) (03:17)
40. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 31 Evangelista “Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten” (01:02)
41. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 32 Choral ” Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht” (Coro I-II) (00:47)
42. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 33 Evangelista/Testis I & II/Pontifex “Und wiewohl viel falsche Zeugen herzutraten” (01:10)
43. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 34 Recitativo “Mein Jesus schweigt zu falschen Lügen stille” (Tenor II) (01:01)
44. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 35 Aria ” Geduld, Geduld!” (Tenor II) (03:43)
45. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 36a Evangelista/Pontifex/Jesus “Und der Hohepriester antwortete” (01:15)
46. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 36b Chorus “Er ist des Todes schuldig” (Coro I-II) (00:12)
47. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 36c Evangelista “Da speieten sie aus in sein Angesicht” (00:14)
48. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 36d Chorus “Weissage” (Coro I-II) (00:20)
49. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 37 Choral “Wer hat dich so geschlagen” (Coro I-II) (00:52)
50. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 38a Evangelista/Ancilla I & II/Petrus “Petrus aber saß draußen im Palaste” (00:54)
51. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 38b Chorus “Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen” (Coro II) (00:10)
52. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 38c Evangelista/Petrus “Da hub er an sich zu verfluchen” (01:18)
53. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 39 Aria “Erbarme dich” (Alto I) (06:12)
54. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 40 Choral “Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen” (Coro I-II) (01:14)
55. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 41a Evangelista/Judas “Des Morgens aber” (00:55)
56. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 41b Chorus “Was gehet uns das an” (Coro I-II) (00:09)
57. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 41c Evangelista/Pontifex I & II “Und er warf die Silberlinge” (00:39)
58. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 42 Aria “Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder” (Basso II) (02:37)
59. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 43 Evangelista/Pilatus/Jesus “Sie hielten aber einen Rat” (02:12)
60. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 44 Choral “Befiehl du deine Wege” (Coro I-II) (01:11)
61. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 45a Evangelista/Pilatus/Uxor Pilati/Coro I-II “Auf das Fest aber” (02:02)
62. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 45b Chorus “Laß ihn kreuzigen” (Coro I-II) (00:20)
63. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 46 Choral “Wie wunderbarlich” (Coro I-II) (00:51)
64. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 47 Evangelista/Pilatus “Der Landpfleger sagte” (00:17)
65. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 48 Recitativo “Er hat uns allen wohl getan” (Soprano I) (01:09)
66. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 49 Aria “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben” (Soprano I) (05:01)
67. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 50. Evangelista “Sie schrien aber noch mehr” (00:04)
68. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 50b Chorus “Laß ihn kreuzigen” (Coro I-II) (00:18)
69. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 50c. Evangelista/Pilatus “Da aber Pilatus sahe” (00:26)
70. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 50d Chorus “Sein Blut komme über uns” (Coro I-II) (00:38)
71. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 50e Evangelista “Da gab er ihnen Barrabam los” (00:17)
72. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 51 Recitativo “Erbarm es Gott” (Alto II) (01:00)
73. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 52 Aria “Können Tränen meiner Wangen” (Alto II) (05:40)
74. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 53a Evangelista “Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte” (00:38)
75. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 53b Chorus “Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig” (Coro I-II) (00:13)
76. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 53c Evangelista “Und speieten ihn an” (00:18)
77. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 54 Choral “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” (Coro I-II) (02:27)
78. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 55 Evangelista “Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten” (00:48)
79. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 56 Recitativo “Ja freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut” (Basso I) (00:37)
80. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 57 Aria “Komm, süßes Kreuz” (Basso I) (05:41)
81. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 58a Evangelista “Und da sie an diese Stätte kamen” (01:42)
82. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 58b Chorus “Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst” (Coro I-II) (00:28)
83. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 58c Evangelista “Desgleichen auch die Hohenpriester” (00:09)
84. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 58d Chorus “Andern hat er geholfen” (Coro I-II) (00:49)
85. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 58e Evangelista “Desgleichen schmäheten” (00:13)
86. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 59 Recitativo “Ach Golgatha, unselges Golgatha” (Alto I) (01:26)
87. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 60. Aria/Chorus “Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand” (Alto I, Coro II) (02:56)
88. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 61a Evangelista/Jesus “Und von der sechsten Stunde an” (01:22)
89. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 61b+c Chorus “Der rufet dem Elias” (Coro I), Evangelista “Und bald lief einer unter ihnen” (00:18)
90. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 61d Chorus “Halt! halt!” (Coro II) (00:08)
91. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 61e Evangelista “Aber Jesus schrie abermal laut” (00:28)
92. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 62 Choral “Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden” (Coro I-II) (01:24)
93. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 63a Evangelista “Und siehe da” (01:01)
94. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 63b Chorus “Wahrlich dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen” (Coro I-II) (00:17)
95. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 63c Evangelista “Und es waren viel Weiber da” (01:01)
96. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 64 Recitativo “Am Abend, da es kühle war” (Basso I) (01:47)
97. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 65 Aria “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein” (Basso I) (05:49)
98. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 66. Evangelista “Und Joseph nahm den Leib” (00:55)
99. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 66b Chorus “Herr, wir haben gedacht” (Coro I-II) (00:53)
100. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 66c Evangelista/Pilatus “Pilatus sprach zu ihnen” (00:30)
101. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 67 Recitativo “Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht” (Soprano I, Alto I, Tenor I, Basso I, Coro II) (01:57)
102. Gli Angeli Genève – Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244: No. 68 Chorus “Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder” (Coro I-II) (05:39)