Promenading on Golgotha: BCJ perform the St John Passion

Masaaki Suzuki

Carolym Sampson and the Bach Collegium Japan

Benjamin Bruns, Christian Immler and Masaaki Suzuki

Masaaki Suzuki directs Bach Collegium Japan

By Roy Westbrook, 20 August 2024

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“nobody does Bach quite like the Bach Collegium Japan, founded in 1990 by Suzuki”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 19 August 2024

Bach, St John Passion, BWV245

Benjamin Bruns, Tenor

Christian Immler, Baritone

Yusuke Watanabe, Bass

Carolyn Sampson, Soprano

Alexander Chance, Countertenor

Simon Yoshida, Tenor

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki, Conductor

A peerless St John Passion in Tokyo

Nahoko Gotoh, 4th February

In celebration of the 300th anniversary of Bach's St John Passion, Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan gives a compelling performance of the lesser-known 1725 version of work.

*****

Joyous Bach from Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan in Tokyo

Nahoko Gotoh, 7th August

For a year and a half since their European tour was cut short due to the outbreak of the pandemic, Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan have been grounded in Japan, performing domestically despite restrictions.

*****

Spiritually uplifting Bach from the Bach Collegium Japan

Andrew Larkin, 9th March

Three beautiful cantatas from Bach and his Mass in F major made for a rewarding concert with the Bach Collegium Japan. Suzuki directs a thoughtful and heartfelt rendition and is joined by a quartet of excellent soloists.

****1

Spiritual uplift with Suzuki's Mass in B minor by Bach

Andrew Larkin, 12th April

Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan deliver a generally satisfying Mass in B minor.

***11

Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan entrance

David Karlin, 9th April

Masaaki Suzuki leads Bach Collegium Japan in delicate renderings of the Orchestral Suite no.3, the Double Concerto and the Magnificat that convince more in the slower passages.

***11

À Toulouse, le Bach Collegium Japan se convertit à Mozart

Thibault d'Hauthuille, 24th January

Associant Quarantième Symphonie et Requiem dans une version reconstituée par Masato Suzuki lui-même, l'ensemble japonais propose une interprétation puissante, rude et sans complaisance des chefs-d'œuvre de Mozart.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Promenading on Golgotha: Bach Collegium Japan perform the St John Passion