This then, is the continuation of the publication of Ton Koopman's recording of all of Bach's Cantatas. Continuation with Volume 1? Indeed! Ton Koopman had started this notable undertaking on the Erato Label (Warner Music Group) - from which he was bumped after 12 wonderful volumes (almost 40 CD's worth of Bach).

Earlier this year, Challenge Classics then picked up this project, continuing with vol.13 and also reissuing all the previously recorded cantatas. This is the first volume as it had appeared on Erato - and it stands as strong now as it did then. With strong competition these days, especially after several modern recordings of complete Bach works (notable especially the recordings of Helmut Rilling on Haenssler), the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra still makes a strong case for these works and for their versions of them.

Surely, they are not perfect - and indeed, the singers are not all on top of their game all the time, but then, perfection will not be found on other sets either. Rather than delving into meticulous detail (which is well covered in the literature on the cantatas [including on-line]) of the individual singers and cantatas, I'd like to assure everyone that this set is indeed a wonderful one - and one that would not disappoint.

Whether as a beginner to Bach's cantatas or a Bach-veteran looking for an integral set of his Cantatas, this is one of the volumes that deserves serious consideration. That Ton Koopman's playing is absolutely superb may be unnecessary to mention, but certainly helps the recordings that now span 14 volumes.

Volume 1 features the following singers:

Klaus Mertens, Kai Wessel, Guy de Mey & Barbara Schlick


in the following Cantatas:

Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21
Der Himmel lacht! die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31
Gott ist mein König, BWV 71
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste, BWV 106 "Actus tragicus"
Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150
Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185
Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196

as well as alternate versions of
BWV 21: no 9a, Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele
BWV 4:
no 1, Sinfonia in E minor
no 2, Christ lag in Todesbanden
no 3, Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
no 8, Wir essen und leben wohl

Run time 3h 19m


Other reviews of Koopman Bach Cantatas can be found here:

Complete Cantatas, Volume 2
Coffee- & Peasant-Cantata
Marian Feast Cantatas
Wedding Cantatas

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Waking up