Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 (1725) Sinfonia
Es ist gut euch, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108 (1725) Air « Was mein Herz von dir begehrt »
Gott ist uns’re Zuversicht, BWV 197 (1728) Air « Schläfert aller Sorgen Kummer »
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 (1707) Sinfonia
Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit, BWV 115 (1724) Air « Ach, schläfrige Seele, wie ? »
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21 (1714) Sinfonia
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33 (1724) Air « Wie furchtsam »
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 (1714) Sinfonia
Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 114 (1724) Air « Du machst, o Tod, mir nun nicht ferner bange »
Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, BWV 156 (1729) Sinfonia
Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35 (1726) Air « Gott hat alles wohl gemacht »
Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196 (1707-1708) Sinfonia
Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170 (1726) Air « Vergnügte Ruh’ »
CAST
Paul Figuier, Alto – Ambronay
Zoltán Daragó, Alto – Paris
Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset, Direction
“This beautiful programme is an anthology of arias for alto, including some «hits» as well as much lesser-known tunes by J.-S. Bach. Bach, widely regarded as an immutable «statue», had a lengthy period of cantata composition. We can hear his style evolve throughout the programme as we discover early works that are not in the same inspirational vein as his later works. The alto voice has that ’comfort food’ quality, you feel enveloped by warm, consoling, lullaby-like arms that we find in these alto arias. We are exploiting this lower register of the voice to bring out a specific emotion not found in other types of voice. Paul Figuier and Zoltán Daragó are joining us for this programme. They are both young countertenors. I spotted Paul at the Paris Conservatoire, also in a programme of Bach cantatas. His voice is extremely warm and very well suited to this repertoire. Zoltán Daragó is a very promising young Hungarian singer, whom I had the pleasure of meeting when he asked us to record his first album, and we are delighted to have been able to offer him this project. This «Bachian» programme is an excellent opportunity to showcase these two young soloists, as well as our Ensemble, which as of yet has had too few opportunities to tackle this repertoire.”
– Christophe Rousset
