Bastian Walcher Quartett - Arias in Blue (2024) [Hi-Res]

With "Arias in Blue", the Bastian Walcher Quartet, together with soprano Cathrin Lange, presents an album that transcends the boundaries of musical genres. The spectrum ranges from original compositions in the style of the 1930s to new arrangements of well-known baroque arias by Bach, Rachmaninoff and Handel, paired with an electro-chill sound.

A standout track on the album is "Erbarme dich", one of the most famous arias from Johann Sebastian Bach's "St Matthew Passion" from 1727. This piece of music represents a high point both within the Passion and in Bach's entire oeuvre and expresses a deep spiritual and emotional dimension, while the text expresses the plea for mercy and compassion. In the jazz version by the Bastian Walcher Quartet, the aria, which was originally composed for alto voice, is sung by soprano Cathrin Lange. The trumpet takes on the comforting counterpart in place of the oboe.