Bach: Cantatas

Bach didn't compose many cantatas for solo soprano, but the few he did write are gems and have long been popular with performers and listeners alike. The secular works, such as the wedding cantata Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten and Non sa che sia dolore, Bach's only cantata in Italian, were probably written for his second wife, Anna Magdalena, who was a singer at the court in Cöthen when Bach was there. (It has been suggested that Bach composed the sacred cantatas included here for Anna Magdalena as well, even though women weren't supposed to sing in church at that time.) She must have been very skillful indeed to negotiate the long lines of Weichet nur and the high-flying coloratura fireworks of Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen for soprano with obbligato trumpet. It seems that virtually every soprano ever to have recorded Bach has had a go at Jauchzet Gott, from Elisabeth Schwarzkopf to Kathleen Battle and even super-mezzo Marilyn Horne. Canadian soprano Nancy Argenta came to prominence with the Baroque instrument revival of the 1980s; her Jauchzet Gott is worthy to stand beside even the spectacular performances of Julianne Baird and Emma Kirkby. (Argenta's "Alleluia" is jaw-droppingly fast--and sung flawlessly.) Equally impressive is Ich habe genug, a work better known in its incarnation for solo bass and oboe. Bach recast the cantata for soprano with flute; Argenta colors her voice to match the Baroque flute exquisitely. She and the marvelous Ensemble Sonnerie do just as well by the remaining cantatas on this two-disc reissue--at the budget price, this is a real find. --Matthew Westphal Amazon.com

great collection at a good price

Nancy Argenta sings beautifully on these two discs and the instrumental playing is well done. These contatas make for very enjoyable listening. The notes are scant and do not include the words of the pieces although these can be easily found in various published sources or even on-line (see J.S. Bach home page or cantatas page for links). The set is a good bargain. January 31, 2006

Finally!!

Some years ago I discovered BWV 51. Although I was already a Bach fanatic I was totally amazed ...but what a dreadfull singer it was (someone in the 50s..). Then I started collecting BWV 51...For much time I was told that you couldn't get better than Emma Kirkby. I still find her very good, but I couldn't find that feeling of amazement anymore. I ended up thinking.."Well that is as good as a human can get it...". A couple of months ago I bought this Cd, more because of BWV 82a as I already owned versions of the other cantatas, and...WOW...WOW...WOW... And after many listenings still WOW!!! I gave Emma Kirkby 6 stars in one of my listmanias, but this one should have 10! March 28, 2005

Finally a soprano with lyric beauty

Much of vocal pedagogy today focuses on how to make loud singers. Opera is everything and beauty and intonation are sometimes left at the wayside for the sake of power. But the music of Bach is certainly not about volume.

Nancy Argenta sings these cantatas with a clear, warm lyric tone that gives me shivers. The line, the clarity of the intonation, and the musicality surpasses almost any singer I know, especially most of today's opera stars.

If you have ever been frustrated with singers like Cecilia Bartoli because you can't even tell what note they're singing, there is hope.
I highly recommend this recording. March 11, 2005

Brilliant Bach

In this Bach tercentenary year we're hearing lots of cantatas -- a very welcome development for those of us who've spent years looking for high-quality recordings of any cantatas (let alone some of the less commonly performed ones) and wincing at the singers who tackle Bach as if he were Puccini. Nancy Argenta's contribution is a welcome addition to this growing discography. The program is well-conceived and pleasantly paced, and Argenta's vocal agility rivals that of any soprano out there. The one qualification I would express is that her voice is very light -- even a trifle bird-like -- and the sound is somewhat chirpy and lacking in colour for my own taste: a darker sound and more "bottom" in some of the arias would, to me, carry more conviction and authority, as well as allowing for greater interpretive range. The 2-CD set is definitely a bargain, though -- and a good buy for voice students and Bach-lovers alike. (Too bad the budget didn't run to printing the texts of the arias in the accompanying leaflet, however.) August 28, 2000

More reviews at Amazon.com ...