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"Followers of this splendid series of reissues will already have gathered why Erato feel compelled to continue their quick-fire release strategy (this is the fourth volume in two years comprising a total of 24 cantatas drawn from Werners rich legacy). Each disc serves as evidence that Bach performance in the 1950s, 1960s and, to a certain extent, 1970s can boast qualities which have eluded many modern-day practitioners. As more historic recordings come to light (and 1970 is historic given how quickly eighteenth-century performance practice has changed), it is easy to adopt a blanket perspective driven by the insatiable desire to reinvent the past. Indeed, not everything Werner did with Bach is as acceptable now as it was in 1964 when the earliest of the cantatas in this set was recorded. Yet, above all, what these performances implore from the listener is that we distinguish between fashion and taste what is a sign of its time and what transcends it, in the process begging a few questions on what constitutes the real thing if we take the concept of authenticity to its logical conclusion.
Most persuasive of all in Werners Bach is the ingenuous reading of the musical line as dictated by the sentiments of the text. This is not merely a form of homogeneous vocalization but a sort of spontaneous connection between the composers setting of words and an undistracted conviction to represent them. We can witness this in the arias of No. 30, magnificently sung by Bruce Abel and Barbara Scherler (how deft is the pacing and articulation here as slothful and decadent sinners are brought into line but done with such grace), as well as the long-breathed direction in the gentle, pastoral lilt of the opening chorus of No. 104. Richter does good things here too. Whether one looks upon these traits as an embodiment of the uncomplicated self-expression found in the German provinces (Heilbronn and Pforzheim are hardly metropolitan), or just a director blessed with an intuitive sense of Bachs emotional world, it is hard to know. Easier to recognize is the extent of the fine singing on display: Kurt Huber is perhaps not quite in the same league as Helmut Krebs (whom the booklet lists as being in No. 68 which he clearly isnt) but he is typical of the musicianly singer Werner seems to have attracted: sensitive and instinctively able to colour the music with memorable nuances (only Emiko Iiyama is disappointing). Better known is the quietly distinguished Jakob Stampfli who comes up trumps every time, as indeed throughout the series has the inimitable and gleaming voice of Agnes Giebel; No. 68, a fine Cantata for Pentecost, reveals a singer who transports the familiar sense of frolicking joy of Mein glaubiges Herze (My heart ever faithful) on to a new shining plateau, reinforced by the delightfully performed instrumental interlude which follows.
There is much else to admire here including a notable Ascension Oratorio (No. 11) boasting a brilliant opening chorus, if a less compelling final one (a monstrously hard movement) where Werner rather runs out of steam: the complete opposite to Richter who gets frantically overexcited and rushes the fences. Werners performance of No. 7, if short on Leonhardts eloquence, is still valid for its robust energy, even if there are details in continuo realization which are harder to reconcile in modern times.
The accompanying booklet is satisfyingly complete but it is a pity that more care wasnt taken to transfer details correctly from the original format. Small point maybe, but so much thought has evidently gone into bringing this major anthology to light (we have our own NA to thank for the skill with which each programme has been assembled) that it seems a pity not to extend such care to documentation. The sound transfers are outstanding the best so far and no less than these wonderful performances deserve. I can still think of other fine Werner cantatas (Nos. 82 and 56 with Barry McDaniel, for a start) which I sincerely hope we will see in coming months.'"