Cover: Nude Woman Praying by Jan Hardisty (b1948)
Hyperion CDA67901/2 · March 2013
Bach - St John Passion
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton (conductor)
- EARLY MUSIC TODAY EDITOR'S CHOICE
- GRAMOPHONE CHORAL CD OF THE MONTH
- GRAMOPHONE 'CHOICE'
Press
Presto Classical2013I seem to spend a lot of time in these newsletters enthusing about new discoveries, revived rarities or fresh perspectives on well-known repertoire but today I’m going to evangelise (pun intended) about a very straightforward…Read the review 
The Daily Telegraph20135 Stars On Good Friday at London’s St John’s Smith Square, Stephen Layton will conduct Polyphony and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in Bach’s St John Passion. These Polyphony performances of the masterworks marking the…Read the review 
Music Web International2013Bach : St John Passion - Music Web International Stephen Layton and Polyphony perform the St. John Passion every year around Easter time, usually at St. John’s Smith Square in London. This recording was made in the days that…Read the review 
SINFINIMUSIC.com2013sinfinimusic.com Andrew Stewart listens to Stephen Layton and Polyphony's recording of Bach's St John Passion and finds a true believer's response to the music and story 5 There are times when performers are collectively caught…Read the review 
Gramophone Magazine2013Stephen Layton’s outstanding new St John is about as state-of-the-art a Bach Passion recording as you’ll hear. For all its referencing various traditions, the overall signposting is pitched in the ‘middle of the road’ (and I mean…Read the review 
Audiophile Audition2013To recap: there are five extent “versions” of Bach’s St. John Passion. I say this because today’s listening audience doesn’t always get what’s on the inside of the recording package by reading what is on the outside. To…Read the review 
International Record Review2013A very welcome new recording … Stephen Layton presents an intelligently perceptive performance, beautifully sung by a fine team of soloists … This recorded version comes finely honed, a deep familiarity with the score not causing…Read the review 
The Dominion Post2013There have been many fine recordings of this work … but this is the equal of anything I have heard. Lead by tenor Ian Bostridge as the Evangelist, and Neal Davies as Christ, this is a rivetingly taut and dramatic performance…Read the review 
Early Music Review2013Stephen Layton directs this intense, dramatic reading with intelligence and integrity, ably assisted by an excellent team of soloists. Ian Bostridge is a superly articulate, agile and expressive EvangelistRead the review 
The Observer2013Conductor Stephen Layton, top soloists, the expert choir of Polyphony and the incomparable Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment perform the St John Passion annually at St John’s Smith Square. It’s always a sell-out. Bach revised…Read the review
Recorded: April 2012
Produced by Adrian Peacock
Engineered by David Hinitt
Release date: March 2013
Total duration: 117 minutes 44 seconds
Track list
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 1, Chorus: Herr, unser HerrscherJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)9'04
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 2, Recitative: Jesus ging mit seinen Jüngern (Evangelista/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'23
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 3, Chorale: O große LiebJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'46
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 4, Recitative: Auf dass das Wort (Evangelista/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'03
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 5, Chorale: Dein Will gescheh, Herr GottJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'47
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 6, Recitative: Die Schar aber (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'45
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 7, Aria: Von den Stricken meiner SündenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)4'54
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 8, Recitative: Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesu nach (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'10
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 9, Aria: Ich folge dir gleichfallsJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)3'25
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 10, Recitative: Derselbige Jünger (Evangelista/Ancilla/Petrus/Christus/Servus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)3'11
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 11, Chorale: Wer hat dich so geschlagenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'40
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 12, Recitative: Und Hannas sandte ihn gebunden (Evangelista/Servus/Petrus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 13, Aria: Ach, mein SinnJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'30
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 14, Chorale: Petrus, der nicht denkt zurückJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'11
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 15, Chorale: Christus, der uns selig machtJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 16, Recitative: Da führeten sie Jesum (Evangelista/Pilatus/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)4'04
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 17, Chorale: Ach großer KönigJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'36
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 18, Recitative: Da sprach Pilatus zu ihm (Evangelista/Pilatus/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'00
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 19, Arioso: Betrachte, meine SeelJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'31
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 20, Aria: Erwäge, wie sein blutgefärbter RückenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)8'37
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 21, Recitative: Und die Kriegsknechte flochten (Evangelista/Pilatus/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)5'39
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 22, Chorale: Durch dein Gefängnis, Gottes SohnJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'43
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 23, Recitative: Die Jüden aber schrieen (Evangelista/Pilatus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)3'58
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 24, Aria with chorus: Eilt, ihr angefochtnen SeelenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)3'41
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 25, Recitative: Allda kreuzigten sie ihn (Evangelista/Pilatus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'18
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 26, Chorale: In meines Herzens GrundeJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 27, Recitative: Die Kriegsknechte aber (Evangelista/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)4'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 28, Chorale: Er nahm alles wohl in achtJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'04
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 29, Recitative: Und von Stund an nahm sie der Jünger (Evangelista/Christus)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'21
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 30, Aria: Es ist vollbracht!Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)5'41
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 31, Recitative: Und neiget das Haupt und verschied (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'30
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 32, Aria and Chorale: Mein teurer Heiland, lass dich fragenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)4'31
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 33, Recitative: Und siehe da (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'31
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 34, Arioso: Mein Herz, in dem die ganze WeltJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)0'48
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 35, Aria: Zerfließe, mein HerzeJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)7'23
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 36, Recitative: Die Jüden aber (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'14
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 37, Chorale: O hilf, Christe, Gottes SohnJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 38, Recitative: Darnach bat Pilatum Joseph von Arimathia (Evangelista)Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'23
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 39, Chorus: Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen GebeineJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)8'02
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 40, Chorale: Ach Herr, lass dein lieb EngeleinJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'00
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 1 No 11, Chorale (fully accompanied version): Wer hat dich so geschlagenJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'35
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 17, Chorale (fully accompanied version): Ach großer KönigJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)1'35
- St John Passion BWV245: Part 2 No 40, Chorale (fully accompanied version): Ach Herr, lass dein lieb EngeleinJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)2'00
Recording details from Hyperion Records.