Bach Violin and Voice - Christine Schäfer, Matthias Goerne, Hilary Hahn

Violinist Hilary Hahn recruits some very fine musicians for this gentle recording of Bach's Arias and Duets with Violin.

Composer: Bach
Repertoire: Arias and Duets with Violin 
Artists: Christine Schäfer (sop), Matthias Goerne (bass), Hilary Hahn (vln), Munich Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Liebreich
Rating:  4/5
Genre: Orchestral
Label: Deutsche Grammophon 477 8092

Hahn’s idea to record Bach violin obbligatos with singers and orchestra recruits the best in bass Goerne, soprano Schäfer and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. She binds the vocalists with silk ribbons of tone in the duet ‘Wann kommst du’ from Cantata No.140, while Schäfer’s impatient pleading fails to irritate Goerne’s unhurried, gentle bass. The St Matthew Passion comes later, sung lightly by Schäfer in Mendelssohn’s transposition (presumably for the 1829 revival). From the same source, Goerne’s demanding velvet voice in ‘Gibt mir mein Jesum’ is irresistible.