BRC-2016 - Bach Johannes-Passion Grossmann

This is one of the VOX pioneering recordings at a time when complete Passions were a rarity. Among the three sets available in 1955 the Long Playing Record Guide preferred this one: "Grossmann leads a warm, well executed performance, recorded fairly well", wrote Warren De Motte. In fact though the chorus today might sound a bit woolly, the soloists are very much near perfection and Gruber's Evangelist is a blessing. Equally fine contributions all round and the solo lines were graced by Nikolaus Hubner's gamba and Guenter Breitenbach's viola d'amore. As usual what might be missing in scholarship was amply compensated by good taste and a naturalness of utterance. No wonder Nicolaus Harnoncourt among the orchestra's cellos assimilated the great lessons he later expanded.

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