This disc is part of a joint series of Bach cantata recordings between Nikolas Harnoncourt and the late Gustav Leonhardt. The recordings on this CD – Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 140), written for the 27th Sunday after Trinity; the Advent Sunday cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61); and Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir (BWV 29), written to mark the inauguration of Leipzig’s new city council in 1731 – are taken from live performances at the Musikverein in Vienna in 2006 and 2007.
Harnoncourt’s interpretation gives a generous nod in the historically-informed direction, but not religiously so. His Concentus Musicus Wein is a period orchestra, of a more-or-less period size. The Arnold Schoenberg Chor is larger in comparison – larger than what Bach would have had – however this does not impinge on what is undeniably a musically authoritative recording. The opening chorus ...
