Bach, J S: Cantata BWV137 'Lobe den Herrn, den mächtigen König der Ehren'

“…Suzuki's instrumentalists are fast becoming the stars of the series, their obligato playing often in danger of eclipsing the singers whose arias they gild so tellingly. …Robin Blaze exudes radiance in the alto aria of BWV 137 while Peter Kooij is magisterial against the lively instrumental bluster at the beginning of BWV 168.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2008 ****

“Where Collegium Musicum Japan scores is in the reflective gestures of pieces like Ihr, die jhr euch Christo nennet, with its conceits on the burden of guilt for each individual who passes the distressed traveller.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2008

“With Suzuki you can hear Bach's heart beat” International Record Review

“The performances are outstanding throughout - Tyson's tour do force of breath-control in the second aria of BWV 35; Harvey's uninhibited gladness, 'Freden', in BWV 69a; time standing still as, over pizzicato lower strings, the violin weaves its obligator line round Stutzmann's first aria of BWV 33; Keith endearingly matching oboes and bassoon in BWV 77. The choir is superbly athletic...” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 *****

““Once again, Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir is the jewel in the crown of each cantata performance. Add to that Gardiner’s dramatic, electric response to music he clearly loves and you have a set that rivals his Gramophone Record of the Year Award winning disc that launched this incredible series.” Gramophone Magazine

“One of Gardiner's strongest volumes to date… The solo singing, especially in BWV35, is warm-hearted and generous. Alongside the brilliantly articulated organ obbligato playing of Ian Watson, alto Robin Tyson provides a supremely courageous and immediate series of telling arias. From Frankfurt, the pick of the crop is the awe-inspiring, almost apocalyptic BWV77.. Gardiner and his forces reach twin heights: here is a magisterial representation of the inscrutable law (of the Commandments) and a profound awareness of Bach's colourful rhetoric sensibility - all infectiously illuminated in the "diary". This is a volume to treasure on many counts.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2007

“The greatest strength in recent volumes has been the quality of the choral singing. Here, the cultivated and robust Amsterdam Baroque Choir brilliantly evoke the deliberate rhetorical juxtaposition of the text in the opening chorus of No 47… The same is true of the great Trinity cantata Lobe den Herren (No 137) in which the choir bring a kind of organic life-loving vim... The addition of Sandrine Piau graces any recording and she sings her significant arias in Nos 36 and 47 with a disarmingly honest identification with the texts.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2005