Saturday, December 20, 2025
Berliner Philharmonie, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße, Berlin
If I mention at the outset that I have four recordings of the B-minor Mass (BWV232), respectively conducted by Celibidache, Giulini, Jochum, and Klemperer (complete and a separate taping of choruses), then you will know where I am coming from, although I have heard ‘period’ performances led by John Butt and William Christie.
For his Berliner Philharmonker debut during this week, Raphaël Pichon went big with Bach’s B-minor Mass, finding a comforting austerity in the opening chorus, RIAS Kammerchor Berlin members singing sublimely, unanimously and expressively, Pichon encouraging the latter with shapely baton-less gestures (he was also without a podium). This Mass is a wide-ranging work – exuberant, with trumpets and timpani ringing out (superb trills from the former), to probing introspection: whatever the tempo, the mood, or the sentiment, these musicians were the masters of this amazing collection of musical creations brought together. Astonishing agility from all at times.
Instrumental solos were excellent, including Albrecht Mayer (cor anglais), Stefan Dohr (horn), and the concertmaster, were notable, the latter not a BP member (perhaps tied to Pichon’s own ensemble of singers and players, the Bordeaux-based Pygmalion, who have already recorded this work for Harmonia Mundi). On this Berlin night B-minor was the key to sound-off in, and this gathering of singers and musicians – Pichon a flexible, broad-minded interpreter of the Baroque able to meet colleagues at least halfway as to preparing and performing this repertoire – was the place to be involved, so much so that this rendition took on a special meaning and may well have changed lives or at least perceptions of these timeless settings. Yes, I may well mean me.
Nikola Hillebrand soprano
Xenia Puskarz Thomas mezzo-soprano
Beth Taylor alto
Emiliano Gonzalez Toro tenor
Huw Montague Rendall baritone
Christian Immler bass
RIAS Kammerchor Berlin
”A great composer takes stock with one of his last works – and creates one of the most mesmerising vocal works ever: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor goes beyond the boundaries of the liturgy of the mass and combines everything that makes up the art of Baroque composition – from poignant arias and elaborate fugues to magnificent choral movements. Bach takes us through the whole spectrum of human emotions. Raphaël Pichon, an acclaimed conductor of Early music, makes his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker.” [DCH]
The ‘Credo’ from Robert Shaw’s highly-regarded complete 1960 recording of the B-minor Mass…
https://www.ensemblepygmalion.com/biographie-en
You should also get the beautiful Joshua Rikin version on Nonesuch.