Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings releases
Bach’s St John Passion
conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and directed by Peter Sellars
on DVD and Blu-Ray on Friday, September 19
The orchestra’s in-house label also reissues Peter Sellars’s staging of
St Matthew Passion, which receives its U.S. premiere
October 7 and 8 at the Park Avenue Armory
Berlin Philharmoniker Recordings are now available through
berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com and Arkiv Music
BERLIN, GERMANY (September 10, 2014) — The Berliner Philharmoniker releases its live recording of Bach’s spiritual and dramatic St John Passion, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and staged by Peter Sellars, in a box set comprising both DVD and Blu-Ray, on Friday, September 19. The linen-bound hardcover edition from the orchestra’s new in-house label, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, features St John Passion in the best possible picture and sound quality with extensive bonus material, including an interview with Sir Simon Rattle and Peter Sellars, an introduction to the work by Chorus Master Simon Halsey, and a comprehensive booklet with photos. The set is available from www.berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com and Arkiv Music.
Soloists for the performances were tenor Mark Padmore in the role of the Evangelist, soprano Camilla Tilling, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, tenor Topi Lehtipuu, baritone Roderick Williams (Jesus), baritone Christian Gerhaher (Pilatus, Petrus) with the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Berlin Radio Chorus) under Chorus Master Simon Halsey. The performances were recorded live at the Berlin Philharmonie on February 27 and 28 and March 1, 2014.
Sir Simon Rattle says of the work, “The St John Passion is the first big Bach I conducted and it changes your life. The St Matthew Passion is a completely different animal, full of thought and consolation, while the St John is full of horror and terror. It is one of the most aggressive and violent pieces ever written, so dissonant and experimental that it is still astonishing today. You could live 20 lives and never discover all its secrets.” The performances at the Philharmonie were hailed by the New York Times as “brilliant and energetic” and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the “haunting, almost unsurpassble singing, of all those involved.”
In addition, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings released a new edition of their highly acclaimed production of Bach’s St Matthew Passion on Friday, September 5. St Matthew Passion, also led by Sir Simon Rattle and staged by Peter Sellars with soloists Mark Padmore, Magdalena Kožená, Topi Lehtipuu, and Christian Gerhaher, and Thomas Quasthoff, was recorded live at the Philharmonie in April 2010. It is now available in the same linen-bound hardcover DVD and Blu-ray set as the St John Passion. Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings’ inaugural release of Robert Schumann’s complete symphonies conducted by Sir Simon Rattle is also available in a two-CD and Pure Audio Blu-ray set, as well as a limited edition four-LP set, pressed on 180g virgin vinyl. The Schumann set can be purchased from berliner-philharmoniker-recordings.com, iTunes, Arkiv Music, and HDTracks.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
St John Passion, BWV 245
Recorded live at the Berlin Philharmonie
February/March 2014
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER
Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor
Camilla Tilling, Soprano
Magdalena Kožená, Mezzo-Soprano
Topi Lehtipuu, Tenor (arias)
Mark Padmore, Tenor (Evangelist)
Roderick Williams, Baritone (Jesus)
Christian Gerhaher, Baritone (Pilatus, Petrus)
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Simon Halsey, Chorus Master
Peter Sellars, Staging
Playing time: 135 min (performance), 52 min (bonus)
Picture: 1080i Full HD (Blu-Ray) / NTSC 16:9 (DVD)
Sound: PCM Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Blu-Ray) / PCM Stereo, DTS 5.1 (DVD)
Subtitles: English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean
Booklet (German, English): articles on the work and the production
2 DVD + 1 Blu-Ray
Hardcover Linen Edition
Release Date: September 19, 2014
Catalogue Number: BPHR 140031
€39.90 (approx. $53.00)
Bonus: Introduction by Simon Halsey, Sir Simon Rattle and Peter Sellars in conversation
Voucher: 7-day ticket for the Digital Concert Hall
# # #
Also available: Exclusive new edition in linen hardcover
J.S. Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER
Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor
Peter Sellars, Staging
Recorded live the Berlin Philharmonie, April 2010
2 DVD + 1 Blu-Ray
Hardcover Linen Edition
Release Date: September 5, 2014
Catalogue Number: BPHR 140021
€39.90 (approx. $53.00)
