Ex Cathedra Choir, Baroque Orchestra, Jeffrey Skidmore - Bach, J S: St Matthew Passion, BWV244 (2009)

Tracklist

CD1
01. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Come, you daughters, share my mourning (Chorus, Soprano)
02. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: When Jesus had finished saying these things (Evangelist, Jesus)
03. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: O blessed Jesu, how have you offended (Chorus)
04. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: At that time there assembled all the chief (Evangelist, Chorus, Jesus)
05. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: My master and my Lord (Alto 1)
06. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: Grief for sin reads the guilty heart within (Alto 1)
07. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas (Evangelist, Judas)
08. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: Break in grief, O loving heart (Soprano 2)
09. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus (Evangelist, Chorus, Jesus)
10. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: It's I whose sins have bound you (Chorus)
11. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: He answered them and said (Evangelist, Jesus, Judas)
12. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Although our eyes with tears o'erflow (Soprano 1)
13. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: Jesu, Saviour, I am yours (Soprano 1)
14. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: And after they had sung a hymn together (Evangelist, Jesus)
15. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: Receive me, my Redeemer (Chorus)
16. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Simon Peter answered and said to him (Evangelist, Peter, Jesus)
17. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: I want to stand beside you (Chorus)
18. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane (Evangelist, Jesus)
19. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: O Grief! What trembling of his heavy heart! (Tenor 1) - Chorale: My Saviour, why must all this trouble fall on you? (Chorus)
20. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: I would beside my Lord be watching (Tenor 1, Chorus)
21. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: And going further, he threw himself on the ground (Evangelist, Jesus)
22. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: The Saviour, low before his Father bending (Bass 2)
23. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: Never will I choose to leave him (Bass 2)
24. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping (Evangelist, Jesus)
25. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: O Father, let your will be done (Chorus)
26. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: Again he came and found them sleeping (Evangelist, Jesus, Judas)
27. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Aria: My Saviour Jesus, now is taken (Soprano 1, Alto 1, Chorus)
28. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Recitative: And suddenly, one of the disciples who were there with Jesus (Evangelist, Jesus)
29. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part I: Chorale: O World, your sinful ways lament (Chorus)
30. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: Ah! Now is my Saviour gone! (Alto 1, Chorus)
31. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: And those who had arrested Jesus took him to the house of the high priest (Evangelist)
32. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Chorale: How falsely does the world accuse! (Chorus)
33. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Though many false witnesses came forward (Evangelist, False Witnesses, High Priest)
34. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: My Lord stays silent, though men accuse him falsely (Tenor 2)
35. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: Endure through lies and taunts and slander (Tenor 2)
36. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: The high priest answered, and said to him (Evangelist, High Priest, Jesus, Chorus)
37. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Chorale: O Lord, who dares to strike you (Chorus)

CD2
01. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Simon Peter was sitting in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said (Evangelist, First Maid, Peter, Second Maid, Chorus)
02. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: Have mercy, Lord on, me (Alto 1)
03. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Chorale: Lamb of God, I fall before you (Chorus)
04. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Now when the morning came (Evangelist, Judas, Chorus, Chief Priests)
05. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: Give, O give me back my Saviour (Evangelist)
06. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: After they had conferred together (Evangelist, Pilate, Jesus)
07. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Chorale: Commit your way to Jesus (Chorus)
08. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Now on the feast day (Evangelist, Pilate, Pilate's Wife, Chorus)
09. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Amazing love, this sacrifice to offer (Chorus)
10. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: The Governor asked (Evangelist, Pilate)
11. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: To all men Jesus has done good (Soprano 1)
12. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: For love my Saviour now is dying (Soprano 1)
13. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: But they shouted all the more and said (Evangelist, Chorus, Pilate)
14. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Have pity, God! (Alto 2)
15. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: If my weeping and my wailing be unavailing (Alto 1)
16. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: And then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus (Evangelist, Chorus)
17. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: O bleeding head, so wounded (Chorus)
18. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: And after they had mocked him (Evangelist)
19. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: In truth our flesh and blood must be (Bass 1)
20. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Come, healing Cross! (Bass 1)
21. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: And when they came to a place called Golgotha (Evangelist, Chorus)
22. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Ah, Golgotha! Unhappy Golgotha! (Alto 1)
23. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: See it: see the Saviour's outstretched arm (Alto 1, Chorus)
24. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: Now from the midday hour there fell a darkness (Evangelist, Jesus, Chorus)
25. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Chorale: Be near me, Lord, when dying (Chorus)
26. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: And then, at once (Evangelist, Chorus)
27. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: At evening, hour of calm and rest (Bass 1)
28. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Aria: Cleanse yourself, my heart from sin (Bass 1)
29. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen (Evangelist, Chorus, Pilate)
30. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: Recitative: And now the Lord is laid to rest (Bass 1, Alto 1, Soprano 1, Chorus)
31. St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Sung in English): Part II: In tears of grief, dear Lord (Chorus)



Orchid Classics' recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion with Ex Cathedra Choir and Baroque Orchestra led by Jeffrey Skidmore is taken from a live performance on Good Friday 2009 at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. One of chief attractions of the album is the fact that the performance uses a new English translation by Nicholas Fisher and John Russell, and there is much to be said for the immediacy that is gained by hearing a piece even as familiar as this in one's native language. The version is largely successful in fulfilling the translators' goals of sticking closely to the meaning of the original, fitting the lines to the musical phrases, and speaking directly and without affectation to modern audiences. The difficulties lie largely with the second criterion; the emphasis too frequently falls inappropriately, as on the final syllable of words like "Iscariot" and "covenant." Skidmore and his singers and instrumentalists offer an appealing, modestly scaled performance of the masterpiece. The fact that the soloists are not internationally acclaimed opera stars with huge voices seems entirely appropriate for presenting the piece in a way that would correspond to the circumstances of its original Leipzig performances. Skidmore acknowledges that for this performance in a modern orchestra auditorium, he uses somewhat larger forces than Bach would have, but he still manages to achieve a sense of intimacy. His performance is shapely but it has a brisk momentum, which combined with the use of the translation gives the work an exciting narrative urgency. The instrumental and choral ensembles are superb, performing with both a warm blend and with rhythmic springiness. The major soloists for the most part have voices that are pleasant, unmannered, and expressive; sopranos Grace Davidson and Natalie Clifton-Griffith, alto Mark Chambers, and tenor Jeremy Budd stand out. Some of the minor roles, taken by members of the chorus, are not particularly strong. The sound is very fine for a live performance, clean, detailed, and immediate, with excellent balance.

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