Review: Suzuki's Epic Bach Vocal Works on BIS

This magnificent 78-SACD set features Bach's vocal works (the cantatas, Masses, Passions, Oratorios, Motets, songs and other goodies) in performances of the highest quality, gorgeously recorded and presented with complete texts and translations at a very attractive price. As a collection contained in a single box, it's in a class of its own.

[@thebiblepriest4950]

Suzuki studied in the Netherlands and belongs to the Dutch school of Bach interpretation, which has produced three-and-a-half of the six complete Cantata sets -- Leonardt(-Harnoncourt), Koopman, Leusink and Suzuki. The Gardiner is British, and the Rilling is German, so they also have ponies in the race.

[@davidaiken1061]

Take it from someone who has been studying Bach's music and Bach performance on record since my youth: Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan are the best among what has become a crowded field of historically minded performers in this repertoire. I started collecting Suzuki's Cantata series when it first came out, and my respect and enjoyment of his enterprise has only deepened over the years. It looks as if a complete edition of Bach's works will ultimately be forthcoming from the BCJ, given that Suzuki and his entourage have been at work on the complete instrumental, ensemble and keyboard works. That edition will be worth waiting for.

[@zdl1965]

The triumph of globalism in classical music. Whoever thought a bunch of Christians in Kobe, Japan would record the complete J.S.Bach vocal music? A staggering achievement all round. Having attended his concerts, Suzuki is a visionary.

[@HoraceInExile]

Exactly. The perfect counterexample to silly (and frequently dangerous) nationalism.

[@neilford99]

Wise words. It is indeed an incredible achievement. Suzuki did it again with the Mozart C minor Mass. He's not just a Bach guy.

[@dmntuba]

This wonderful achievement is perfect example that music should be international 👍

[@WesSmith-m6i]

Thank you so much, Dave, for this encomium to Suzuki's Bach recordings. When I was growing up (born in '61) Rilling or Richter were the default performances for the Bach cantatas, but anymore Suzuki is my go-to when I was listen to the cantatas. Wesley

[@Lohensteinio]

Excellent statement on the broader significance of this set and the biases it disproved.

[@JK-rt2jj]

Listen to Herrweghe’s vocal Bach as well, it’s even more involving. But Suzuki is great and I’m convinced this set, as a complete set, definitely is the best out there.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Like I said.

[@_zumaro]

Much as I enjoy Herreweghe''s Bach, and wish he did a complete cycle as well, it is most certainly no better or more involving than Suzuki.

[@muzluv33]

Agree with David 100%. I have all the complete cantata sets (yes, Bach is up there for me, esp. with my being an organist) and Suzuki is the best overall. His comment about nationalism and the notion that the music of one country can only be performed by the nationals of that country is absurd, especially now. True it should come as no surprise that say Germans should perform Bach but scholarship and the world as a melting pot has changed this view. And what speaks best about this set re this viewpoint is that we have Japanese Christian musicians performing and recording arguably the greatest composer alive (a German) in a Catholic monastery in Kobe, Japan - what a mix! I have had all the above recordings in box sets - the sacred cantatas in separate boxes, the secular cantatas in one box and all the other choral works separately as well. And then BIS releases this huge box at a much lower price - oh well! But still glad I have this set and the others for that matter to experience the different interpretations and what each group brings to these works. This alone proves that J.S. Bach is timeless and always has something new for performers and listeners alike to discover anew even if there may be disagreement here and there. But such is the nature of music making - an inexhaustible treasure trove for all to dive into and enjoy.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you for the comment. One minor point. Bach is not the "greatest composer alive." I'm sorry, but he died a few years ago. ;)

[@muzluv33]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Point taken - was carried away with enthusiasm. Old J.S. is alive with us through his music In Saecula Saeculorum forever and ever Amen.

[@muzluv33]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Again got carried away - this from me an organist and two degrees in organ performance.

[@dizwell]

Is there any reason to buy the new box if you already have the original CDs? Are these remastered perhaps? Or released as high-res SACDs rather than vanilla audio CDs? Or should I, just this once, save my money?!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Save your money.

[@dizwell]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Thank you! 😊

[@JamesDavidWalley]

These are all SACDs.

[@dizwell]

@@JamesDavidWalley Handy to know for some, perhaps.

[@peterboer9572]

The sound of the CD layer of the big 2016 Cantata SACD box is more spacious than the sound of the older five Cantata CD boxes.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

I have the Hänssler Bachakademie version of the major choral works led by Helmuth Rilling which comprises over half of the 172 CD Bach set. Be interesting to compare the two, which I’ll probably do before springing for the Suzuki. Thanks!

[@JohnSmith-te2yg]

Rilling's cantatas are good for his time, but I think you'll find that Suzuki is far better in both performances and recording quality.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

@@JohnSmith-te2yg Thanks!

[@muzluv33]

I will also add that Rilling is a very romantisized version, more so that Karl Richter IMHO (and if you don;t have any of his choral recordings do get them!). But Rilling;s set is very uneven in quality - he can be truly inspired on some cantatas and plain boring in others. Plus Rilling uses a harpsichord in the recitatives which I find distracting in Bach's sacred works. So go for Suzuki if you only get one.

[@Liisa3139]

You did not say anything about the music itself!!!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's been discussed many times by me and others at classicstoday.com (I just did a video on the secular cantatas), and this is a reissue. I saw no need to go into details.

[@Liisa3139]

@@DavesClassicalGuide The title said "review".