Bach’s early cantatas, here BWV 4, 106, and 131, written well before Leipzig, often feel at their best with modest forces. The textures stay clear, the counterpoint speaks naturally, and the devotional tone doesn’t need added weight. You also hear just how fully formed Bach already is at this stage—still a little less expansive than the later Leipzig works, but hardly underdeveloped.
Sébastien Daucé leads Ensemble Correspondances with 14 singers, and the vocal sound is deliberately less blended than in ensembles such as Suzuki’s or Herreweghe’s, closer to a team of soloists singing as a group (an observation rather than a critique).
The instrumental band, on the other hand, is where the intimacy really settles in, giving the music a chamber-like immediacy. Soloists drawn from the choir deliver their lines with poise, and the recording meets Harmonia Mundi’s usual high standard.
The Classic Review Newsletter
Get weekly updates about new classical music content.
By signing up, you acknowledge and agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service .
Album Details |
|
|---|---|
| Album name | Bach – Cantatas BWV 4, 106, 131 |
| Label | Harmonia Mundi |
| Catalogue No. | HMM902745 |
| Artists | Ensemble Correspondances, Sébastien Daucé |
