Bach - St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 (Karl Richter, 1971) - 1/22

[bitteoszillierensie]

I didn't know it was possible to stretch a seven-minute piece out to ELEVEN minutes. My feet just fell asleep.

[solinvictusful]

Not too slow at all ! It's the right tempo ! Noble and amazing interpretation.

[kg99ism]

Germany forever!!!!

[84years]

its all about your own taste.Consider this man is one of the greatest Bach organists who spent a life listening to and playing the masters music.Personally I think its awesome and it resonates in my mind for days after I hear it.

[FriendlyCroock]

i agree

to slow

[sasimiwasapi]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH ME.

[Nicksvoiceinthewild]

Reminds me of Exposed, the film 1983.

Also the thought, "we know you are at have going to hell, but could you please lessen the sin."

[janjohandealgenman]

@golab17

I'm talking about this particular version. Search for Herreweghe's matthaus, much better imo(!)

[chri86]

remarquable interpretation , certainement pas trop lente comme le disent certains mais habitee , majestueuse , intemporelle , sans les ridicules contorsions (pseudo musicologiques ) de divers interpretes actuels. merci pour cet extrait

[janjohandealgenman]

don't like this, to slow for my taste

[golab17]

@janjohandealgenman

Play a video game or watch a few superbowl commercials...you'll be much more comfortable

[Paul1239193]

to slow

[Forcroi]

if they would play just a little slower, they would stop :/

[BLADGAB]

1Q84 brought me here

[jmpalad]

IQ84.

[prototropo]

Hey Fireball--I agree, and I think it surpasses not only the B minor Mass but is equalled only by Michelangelo's tomb of Pope Julius for the most sublime work of Western culture.

[Fireball1787]

@prototropo Thanks for the feedback. When I was a student we had a record library in my student residences, and I borrowed the St Matthew Passion and the B Minor Mass, and played them incessantly. Absolutely magnificent works, both. It was then that I realised that Bach was (and still is) der Meister! I think a day without Bach's music as a day without anything.

Richter's interpretation does full justice to the Master. Wonderful!

[prototropo]

The cellist profiled at 4'30" and again at 6'10" is a total gumdrop!!!

[gbaune]

Karl Richter und sein Bach-Chor bleiben wohl das Maß aller Bach-Dinge.

[diegoverdegiglio]

eccezionale! grandiosa! 

[1hakon]

Die Matthäuspassion ist nicht aufführbar. Zusammen mit der H-moll-Messe die größten Werke, seitdem es Musik gibt. Und das wird in Jahrhunderten unübertroffen sein und ist mit dem menschlichen Verstand unbegreifbar.

[Fireball1787]

Wonderful! Richter and Bach - who can beat them?

This magnificent work has been my constant companion since I was a student some 40-odd years ago, and it still enthrals me.

Whenever the world feels burdensome and overbearing - a few numbers from this masterpiece always restore equilibrium.

Bach's enduring masterpiece ... or should that be the B-minor Mass?

Please discuss.

[maxbigazzi]

sublime!

[muderichard]

Thought I would give this a quick listen, just a few seconds, see what it's all about, heard so much about it but don't really know it. Ended up being awestruck for 11 minutes...incredible! Will have to listen to the other 21 parts now as well.

[vorhangleiste]

Chuck Norris can´t sing it

[zoukina]

Amazing recording, with typical 70 s scene decoration, and clothes, hairstyles.Think that many of them are no longer in this world and their children and grandchildren could be watching this video and recognizing their relatives in this masterpiece. I look at their faces, their hands, they are so inmersed in Bach, thanks to their director. The sound Richter acomplished is out of this world. Thanks !!!!!!

[apostatdurock]

Grandiose !

[Grima21]

@youlupukki

Da hast du natürlich Recht. Deshalb finde ich auch Auffürungen mit "historischen" Instrumental auch besonders schön (Stichwort: historische Aufführungspraxis).

Und den Aspekt mit den unprofessionelleren Orchestern habe ich bisher gar nicht beachtet, bzw bemerkt. Scheint aber sehr plausibel, da damals ja selbst die meisten Komponisten nicht hauptberuflich ihrem Werke nachgehen konnten, konnten es einfache Spieler in einem Orchester schon erst recht gar nicht.

[jfranbazaga]

Es una obra colosal, dirigida por otro colosal especialista en Bach.

Excepcional.

[MrAberdko]

Beautiful!

[Grima21]

Ich möchte anmerken, weil hier ja über das langsame Tempo debattiert wird, dass der andere große Meisterdirigent des 20.Jahrhunderts, Herbert von Karajan, eben dieses Stück in ähnlichem Tempo aufgeführt hat: Seine Interpretation dauerte immerhin 9:22 Minuten (andere dauern 7 Minuten teilweise!).

[yjtannhauser]

Ah what a great recording. I wonder if this is on recording

[crob647gtx]

Anything with Richter's name on it is gold.

[DiVeronica]

wow. about 2:20 my eyes welled up and my hair stood up

[jupagu3]

Simply outstanding!

[Easleytee]

Our current culture's fixation with Mahler befuddles me. Listen to this masterpiece along with Bach's Mass in B Minor. The depth and magnitude of such aesthetic refinement is unmatched.

[whitevanillamuffin]

i cried.

[camposi]

Wow! I´ve heard a version that came on german tv last christmas with the "thomaner choir." That was great - and more faster. Bit this version!!!!! It kicks me away. Maybe some peple prefer the faster version - I prefer this one. I could imagine that could become my favourite relaxation music......Thank you for uploading!

[duckbiter]

The music and performance speak for themselves.

But I want to say how much I appreciate the video production and direction. The magnificent set, the design, the lighting, the sound quality and acoustic, all allow the music to shine forth without intruding in any way.

And subtle, restrained direction - static and slow moving, lengthy camera shots, instant precise cutting (no fades, mixes) perfectly attuned to the music.

Sometimes visuals detract from the music. But here they reveal it's magic.

[jfranbazaga]

Para mi, la mejor de todas las grabaciones.

Un 10 para el maestro Richter.

[trygbugg]

Simply sheer perfection; who's doing it better?!

[airno04]

@trygbugg willem mengelberg :)

[zoukina]

thank you for uploading suhc a quality video, dated 1971. Richter and Bach are one. amazing version. I have it in long play box.

[weeman321456]

SCROLL UP. YOU FOOL, YOU R MISSING IT!!

[oyogoyog]

ive changed my mind. this is too slow. you lose the pulsating effect of the contrabass when it is this slow. i dont like the fast versions either however.

[oyogoyog]

the timing in this is good although it is maybe too slow. its interesting to me how recent versions of bach have been speeded up. although i think this is a bit too slow (not much) this was probably how it was played when performed. for example listen to the version of the finale of st matthew passion in il vangelo secondo matteo and compare it to later versions.

[jjuan54]

just crazy thought........i think of bach as a prophet of aesthetic divinity in music, and the fact that we can NOW enjoy the totallity of this work ( a pleasure that was denied for more than two centuries!! beacuse most of it was lost until the XX century), makes me wonder if God send this music as some sort of aesthetic redention, in the hard , material, and miserable times we live in....

[FliegendeHollaender]

Soli Deo Gloria, indeed :)

[carltonpowers]

I love him! I love how slow he goes, how he captures the gravity. Yes, Richter is not historical, but isnt he proof of how our race adds to its treasures with age? Thank you for posting this!

[bachichliebedich]

sehr gut Maestro Karl

[axisceo]

Richter is the King of baroque music! Oh yes!

[chagzuki]

I used to listen to this a lot several years back and was accustomed to faster versions, it never occurred to me what a slower interpretation might offer. I find I'm able to hear more melodic lines that weren't clear before in certain passages and the sense of scale this brings adds to the majesty of the piece, particularly from 8:30 onwards. Some of the more prosaic passages drag on a bit though.

[JohnEBPiano]

Oh, my God.

[hatstalker]

So what, there may be too many people it may be too slow. I think it's wondrous! The numbers give POWER and the lack of speed allows expression. Plus Bach wanted to write for large groups instead of his small group; In my eyes this is how Bach pictured it.

[TheJamesalden]

Forty years since this recording was made, and yet--it certainly sounds as good as any recording made since then; fact is, that I prefer it to any of these supposedly wonderful, digital recordings. Thank you for posting it....

[SuperMario811]

This is why I favor the Baroque period. Awfully beautiful.

[AbramCortinas]

@pyrrooo actually silk is really good for that! we only use silk.

[pyrrooo]

@AbramCortinas I find cotton a lot better than silk, as long as it's good cotton and doesn't shed. Silk is not that great for absorbing moisture.

[AbramCortinas]

@pyrrooo good point...good point. thanks man.

[karlakor]

This performance is dead from bar one. It is entirely too slow!

[AbramCortinas]

@karlakor what makes a masterpiece? that i can not be destroyed. :) but i agree, its a bit slow.

[jorpheusable]

@karlakor - Well I think Richter knew perfectly what he did. He is born 1926, he was in Dresden in 1945.

[ohlordbabyjesus]

@pyrrooo

Isn't that cute! I'll go ahead and let you go now, though. Don't want to keep you too long from your musical elitism.

[darkblueangel1956]

MERAVIGLIA !! DA BRIVIDI !!! Karl Richter, divinità assoluta della storia dell'interpretazione di Johann Sebastian Bach. Richter sapeva irradiare come una luce infinita, tutto quello che esiste dentro l'opera di Bach. Maestosità, echi misteriosi e arcani, fraseggi eleganti, esposizione delle voci e delle modulazioni, analisi della struttura da ingegnere nucleare !!!! Karl Richter è tra gli Dei dell'Olimpo della Musica !!!!!!!! DA BRIVIDI !!!!!!!!!

[ViolinRush]

@pyrrooo what the hell did you expect? bach filogy wasn't rediscovered in the 70's and anyway it's a very delicate and appassionating interpretation.

[cantata202]

So beautiful and powerful!

[TurbojugendJoe]

Thank you so much for posting the entire passion! It is one of the greatest gifts given to mankind. Whenever I'm sad, I listen to that and it cheers me up!

[lewschestow]

Niemanden hat gott mehr zu verdanken als bach!

[Sensenwerk]

when was this filmed?

[jsnauwaert]

@pyrrooo What a total lack of feeling this genius interpretation.

[jjuan54]

Richter's interpretations of Bach reach the sense of greatness and tragedy of bach's work, the fact is that in his lifetime he could not perform most of his compositions at the scale he wanted to ( the mass in B minor, most of this concertos, and the passions) but thanks to directors such as richter, we can enjoy Bach's magnificent work in all its glory, and not just a historical, exact replica of how the piece could've sounded in its context.......this divine music is beyond history

[lucripet]

@jjuan54 jjuan, Thank you for this interpretation. I became aware of this from reading Steppenwolf again after 30 years. Your statement about "this divine music is beyond history" is so well said. Thank you. jb

[madhoneydew]

@jjuan54 'sin' is not the right word, it is the concept of 'sin' that lacks

[gzaenker]

@jjuan54 in the greatness of Bach, there was nothing to interpret. Karl Richter was a Great Master. I wish he and Bach could have had coffee together and exchanged ideas.

[maricahn]

@gzaenker I really don't think they would share much regarding their aesthetic views on baroque style.

[NiEstasAmikoj]

Jetzt bin ich mit voller Tränen ausdauernd.

Frohe Ostern!!!

[majark4]

I must say that I love this tempo! faster sounds too light, at this tempo sounds really painful

[jsnauwaert]

Tremendous beauty. That's exactly what it is.

[TheCatedral]

Exemplaire dans sa clarté et son pathos absolument idéal s'agissant d'un texte frontispice du drame de l'Amour divin offert sur le bois de la Croix. Magnifique le phrasé et le lyrisme que dégagent cette interprétation. Bach, dans ses Passions, est à penser avant d'être joué. Plus encore, ce sont des oeuvres á méditer et à prier avant de se lancer dans un enregistrement. Celui-ci est des plus convaincants.

[engelbertschoormans]

Sehr langsam.... Die version von Thomaner ist viel schneller...

[newgeorge]

at this speed I just find it loses its inherent shape.

[andiacal]

A great interpretation from a great musician who unfortunatelly died early and I'm affraid then singing and playing Bach became an academical and souless affair Bach is above all human and the emotions he produces with his music are the most human possible.

[andiacal]

A great interpretation from a great musician! It's a pitty he died so early and I'm affraid then the interpretation of Bach turned to be very academical and soulless

[Kristianpont]

This version with its magnificent and powerful tempo is truly great. When played faster it becomes a completely different piece of music.

[Timsterize]

Slow and solemn and therefor of a tragical and tremendous beauty! Very moving!

[danielklee92]

I love the first movement!

[mimibbbb]

Beautiful Passion. 

[TheMauthe]

perfetta interpretazione e un immenso piacere ascoltare questo insieme, geniale come sempre grazieKARL

[tippi02]

Maybe one of the greatest performance of this Bach's music cathedral. At the very first note, you aren't listening to the Matthaus passion. You live this passion. Peter Schreier and Julia Hamari are really great (in the following parts). This is like an incredible wave. So human and so divine.

[CONFITICO2003]

Simply the best ever! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful concert! Cheers!

[Marilupa707]

Richter vermag das langsame Tempo so zu erfüllen, dass es einem zu tiefst berührt. Kein heutiger Dirigent traut sich mehr die Spannung in langsamen Tempo zu halten, er muss schnell darüber hiinweg um weiter zu kommen... Richter erfüllt die Musik vollständig mit dem Inhalt dem Bach ihr gegeben hat. Grossartig. Danke Karl auch wenn du bereits auf der anderen Seite des Weges lebst.

[Oistrakhfollower]

I truly met Jesus through this music...

I felt His pain, His passion, and His love...

[gazgyur]

Unbelievable! How this conductor could gain over the orchestra and the choir to perform this masterpiece so "syllabized"? I can't comprehend it!

[SASACAPTAIN]

Божанствено и потресно, жмарци ме подилазе када слушам ову музику ... Трско, хвала ти за музику!

[Zamacola100]

Inigualable la versión de Karl Richte.

[HimmelsscheibeNebra]

Welch eine Wahnsinnsausführung. Mir kommen die Tränen, so schön ist dieses Stück. Ein geniales Werk von einem genialen Komponisten, von einem Meister dirigiert und meisterhaft gespielt und gesungen. Was hält mich noch vom Kauf der DVD ab?

[QUABLEDISTOCFICKLEPO]

Look it up, you pedants. There is more than one definition of "classical," and yours is by far in the minority.

[SCSChoir]

@hnksnw this isn't classical...it's Baroque :)

[ZviJ1]

@SCSChoir Baroque invariably gets lumped together with classical amongst music theory ignoramuses.

[bwv179]

versione alienante

[hnksnw]

I have heard a lot of amazing classical in my life but this piece stands out for me.

[russedav5]

@hnksnw

So very true, yet the tempo is too slow considering the joy in sorrow nature of the text thereby belied by Richter's view so influenced by Romantic ignorance. Yet as always Bach is nearly indestrucable, fabulously lovely no matter mans abuse. It's not to say "experts" have any more good taste than ordinary folk (after all, they're usually the only ones so without common sense as to call trash and smut "great art" and try to con others to join their deranged arrogant clique)

[1hakon]

This is together with the h- minor mass the greatest composition ever created on earth.Johann S. Bach and Miles Davis were the visioners on our planet and it will endure lot's of centuries until it will be understood on earth.

[Zamacola100]

Insuperable interpretación.

[Zamacola100]

La mejor versión de todas las que he oído.

¡Qué gran emoción!

[W33rt]

Don't know if this is how Bach has mend it to be, but I love such slow performances. Makes it intense for me.

[ZviJ1]

"Richter is boring!" is almost tantamount to stating J.S. Bach's music is boring.

[tipse17]

richter is boring!

[Vamp1963]

@tipse17 You're boring! He knows and feels Bach more than you know yourself.

[carloalon]

He aquí la mayor creación del espíritu humano: harían falta varias vidas para llegar a aprehender su infinita profundidad y grandeza que, al igual que Dios, son insondables.

[butannin]

Gloria a Bach en el Cielo y en la Tierra paz a los hombres que aman a Bach. Glory be to Bach on high and on earth peace to men who love Bach. Gloire à Bach au plus haut des cieux et pais sur la terre aux hommes qui aiment Bach. Ehre sei Bach in der Höhe und auf Erden Friede den Menschen dass lieben Bach. Amén.

[Ecrivon]

The first time I listened to this, I almost cried (if I hadn't been in class, the word "almost" would not be there). This is such a beautiful piece of music.

[Anthot121]

interesting old rendition; for sure dramatic, but maybe inadeguate respect to Bach's ideas (i.e. the organic is too oceanic, and who assume that Bach want sense of tragedy in such romantische way?). So, interesting, but far from the best

[olivierkielbasa]

Très belle interprétation de ce choeur

[yenrabaraho]

Todays so called "baroque" or "historically correct performances", such as Koopman, Gardner, et al are taken too fast. The music becomes rushed, undramatic, it loses the line and feels bullied. Richter has the right tempo here, as does Klemperer. I find the so called "historically correct" performances academic and in bad taste and look forward to the day real musicians come back to the scene to save us from the scourge of hurried Bach.

[HerrWarja]

Thanks for subtitles in english. Scary how everyone is wearing black with this powerfull music!

[yenrabaraho]

This is a very good perfomance, not played too fast. My favourite is Otto Klemperer perfect weight, texture, flow and imo better dynamics as well. I hope some day to hear this in a gentle rocking rhythm, with dynamic contrast, perfect textural clarity and a powerful climax at the pedal point. I have loved Richter's amazing musicianship since I was a teen, but this is a bit too much of a march for my taste. Still superb though. His harpsichord playing leaves my jaw on the floor! lol

[criscordara1]

se le eriza la piel a uno al escucharla... es una emoción que no se puede decir con palabras... una belleza

[slim22rj]

Jesus is proud of bach, for sure.

[347711]

The greatest sond all over the world!

[Gert2230]

Schade das die Welt nicht länger was von Karl Richter hatte !

[paradoxicus]

"Cuando escucho la pasion segun San Mateo,puedo entender a los suicidas que buscan encontrar el paraiso".

E.M.Cioran

[thegoddescomposer]

God the Creator of the whole holy Universe

J.S. Bach The Creator of the whole holy spirit of the music

Creation Demands Creator !!

[painnpeace]

!! WE ALL LOVE METALCORE !!

[robertcouturier]

I heard said that this is the best composed piece of music ever written, it certainly seems so...

[Poussou]

Tout simplement génial!

[Paulchen1990K]

Ich war 7 Jahre im Tölzer Knabenchor, dieses Stück haben wir jedes Jahr in der Philhaormonie in München gesungen, ich bekomm heute immernoch gänsehaut davon

So wunderbar!

[soundzgreg]

Some people they don't understand the nature of such a work, Bach's music in general bring us more near to Gods reality and specially his church music.

Some times i see musicians that playing the music so fast that makes me wondering if they have a pee problem and need to finish quickly...to go free them self's :)

Am i wrong...

[FriendlyCroock]

@soundzgreg

lol right like Ton Koopman

[jsw663]

Although this version is obviously slower than what is commonly accepted nowadays, it brings out the anguish, sorrow and natural beauty so much better. Kudos Richter... yours is my favourite version of the St. Matthew's Passion by far!!!

[aeolus75]

heavenly beautiful

[HerrGustavAschenbach]

Muchiiiiísimas gracias...

[egerboonstra]

Damn, this is almost twice as slow as the contemporary editions.

People must have been sitting in the concert hall for hours....poor people

[foerster]

this execution is more than contemporary.

If you want you can sit, and listen it. Otherways, don't write.

[TurbojugendJoe]

Vielen, vielen Dank fürs Reinstellen! Thank you so much for posting and sharing!

[rex6611]

Поздравления за SoliDeoGloria8550

Невероятно изпълнение на едно велико произведение......

[raxmeger]

Today we have a lot of beautiful historically informed interpretations of Bach's Passions but none of them possesses the sense of tragedy of those of Karl Richter

[bachluthology2]

@raxmeger I couldn't agree with you more. I have most of richter works on cd. He was the best conductor,organist and harpsichordist of our time. He was a Bach prefectionist. Bach/Richter sinks to the heart of Lutheranism

[pyrrooo]

@raxmeger of course they do.

[3NUNS]

is this not so powerful

[MONICA0465]

How can I express what I feel? Is it unbearable sadness or incomprehensible peace? This is in my opinion the greatest work ever composed, and Karl Richter my all time

favourite conductor.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[Nipeurnireproche]

@MONICA0465 I agree completely: Richter is to, my knowledge, the only one to express so well the drama of the sacrifice of Christ and at the same time to convey this peace and acceptation that demonstrated Jesus till the last moment on the cross.

[Wellesz]

Wonderful! Thank you!!

[MrConductor1984]

I deeply respect the high quality of this recording, but have to admit, that I really can't understand this kind of interpretation..

[3NUNS]

@MrConductor1984 : Y not ?

[gataca1976]

wenn man zurück blickt klingt das schon übertrieben! meine herren!

[urik2u]

Bach is Richter, and Richter is Bach...and the intent of this magnifisant work is absolute....

[guinguette07]

Please, please, Richter did not write one single note of that...Conductors pass, Bach remains.

[ruri2akira]

What a masterpiece!!

Thank you!

[urik2u]

This work, this performance IS Havenly...

[3NUNS]

@advisorC101 : what abouts one of Bacch's wayward sons ?

[Tsotne16]

@advisorC101 of course he could -- Philippe Herreweghe is the best Bach performer I suppose...

[okavang20]

@advisorC101

o_O first time you're hearing music?

[mingweicello]

That's magnificent! Could you please tell me more information about this video recording? I only have the DVD DGG releasd a couple of years ago, that was recorded in 60's.

[lekeu1894]

Contemporary recordings of this music are great too but Karl Richter's still my favorite bach interpreter. Thank you so much for posting this.

[anturi86]

With tears on my eyes i can only say, THANK YOU....

[josefk64]

Very nice,  but so sloow...

[bbstenornl]

Wonderfull, but I prefer the version of Phillipe Herreweghe & Collegium Vocale Gent (1998)

[paradoxicus]

Aqui no hay vibratos que valgan.Uno se pone nervioso al escuchar la mayor obra debida a la mente humana y la interpretacion de Karl Richter con el Coro de Munich de Bach.¡¡¡Pluscuamperfecto!!!

[herrGiuan]

Bach e Richter, vi porto sempre nel cuore. Grazie infinite!

[treblechoir99]

Magnificent moment.