Matthäus-Passion

Johann Sebastian Bach


Bach and Pygmalion: the story of a passion, linking the genius of the Thomaskantor to a reflection on inner drama and constantly renewed vocality. This Matthäus-Passion marks a major stage in this fifteen-year companionship and testifies to the culmination of their work on Bach, characterised by its precision and humility. Read through the prism of a tragedy in five acts, at once intimate and theatrical, human and metaphysical, the Passion is revealed here in a new light: as a deeply moving and universal epic.


harmonia mundi

2 hour 42 minutes — 3 CD — March 2022

Awards

La presse en parle

Télérama

‘This success is all the more convincing considering that Raphaël Pichon and his partners are among the most inspired interpreters of Bach. Their secret? They make the music dance, without ever dampening its enthusiasm or numbing its rhythmic flexibility. And they make it sing in a kind of melodic levitation.’ (Sophie Bourdais, 2022)

Classica

‘The rhythmic impulse, always subject to the imperatives of the words, guides Pygmalion with exemplary virtuosity and consistency, which in no way detracts from the expressive intensity and fervour […]. Impulse, pulsation, emotion, jubilation. A revelation.’ (Philippe Venturini, 2022)

Les Echos

‘A radiant, powerful and refined performance.’ (Stéphanie Renard, 2022)

La Vie

‘The leader of today’s most exciting baroque ensemble took the time to assemble his dream team: Julian Prégardien (tenor) as the vibrant evangelist, Stéphane Degout (bass) as the anxious Jesus, Sabine Devieilhe with her haunting soprano, and Lucile Richardot (alto), whose Erbarme dich immediately tugs at the heartstrings and brings tears to the eyes. What is striking is the feeling of grandeur, thanks to the double choirs and orchestras, and the serenity that emanates from this recording, even though it was made in the midst of a pandemic in a Philharmonic Hall closed to the public.’ (Victorine de Oliveira, 2022)

Gramophone

‘More immediately telling is how the spacious recorded sound of the Salle Pierre Boulez in Paris encourages infinite layers of human and musical interaction in each part. As a kind of commentary, early mention must be made of a basso continuo strategy of telling sophistication, ranging from deft and decisive theorbo contributions to an organ that takes a far more critical role in characterising recitatives than I can ever recall. With its glowing inner vitality and penetrating observations, this is a Passion that makes a very definite statement about what this work can communicate in our times.’ (Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, 2022)

Distribution

Soloists
Julien Prégardien, tenor
Stéphane Degout, baritone
Sabine Devieilhe, soprano
Lucile Richardot, alto
Reinoud Van Mechelen, tenor
Hana Blažíková, soprano
Tim Mead, alto
Emiliano Gonzalez-Toro, tenor
Christian Immler, bass

Choir 1
Sabine Devieilhe, Maïlys de Villoutreys, Adèle Carlier, Anne-Emmanuelle Davy, Armelle Froeliger, Nadia Lavoyer, sopranos
Lucile Richardot, Philippe Barth, Marie Pouchelon, altos
Reinoud Van Mechelen, Olivier Coiffet, Constantin Goubet, tenors
Stéphane Degout, Étienne Bazola, Georg Finger, Guillaume Olry, René Ramos Premier, basses

Lily Blanchard, Margot Brechet, Isaure Brunner, Anjali Denis, Ama Gaucher, Jeanne Guezennec, Alma Kone-Poissonnier, Gilda Lebrun, Marguerite Leonard, Rébecca Moeller, Alice Pattonieri, Coraly Poujol, Thaïs Rai, Maïa Rocaboy, Joséphine Solus, maîtrise de Radio France
Morgan Jourdain, choirmaster

Orchestra 1
Sophie Gent, Yoko Kawakubo, Katya Polin, violins 1
Gabriel Grosbard, Gabriel Ferry, Béatrice Linon, violins 2
Josèphe Cottet, Fanny Paccoud, violas
Antoine Touche, cello
Julien Léonard, viola da gamba
Thomas de Pierrefeu, double bass
Evolène Kiener, bassoon
Jasu Moisio, Lidewei de Sterck, oboes
Georgia Browne, Morgane Eouzan, flutes
Matthieu Boutineau, organ
Thibaut Roussel, theorbo

Orchestra 2
Louis Creac’h, Alix Boivert, David Wish, violins 1
Sandrine Dupé, Paul-Marie Beauny, Coline Ormond, violins 2
Marta Paramo, Kate Goodbehere, violas
Cyril Poulet, cello
Myriam Rignol, viola da gamba
Ludek Brany, double bass
Josep Casadella, bassoon
Yanina Yacubsohn, Robert de Bree, oboes
Amélie Michel, Giuilia Barbini, flutes
Pierre Gallon, organ and harpsichord

Continuo
Antoine Touche, cello
Thomas de Pierrefeu, double bass
Thibaut Roussel, theorbo
Matthieu Boutineau, organ
Pierre Gallon, harpsichord

Raphaël Pichon, direction