Benjamin Luxon sings 'Mache dich mein Herze rein' from Bach's 'St. Matthew Passion'

Aria 'Mache dich mein Herze rein' (following the Recitative 'Am Abend da es kühle war')
from 'St. Matthew Passion' - 'Matthäuspassion'
Johann Sebastian Bach

Benjamin Luxon, bass
English Chamber Orchestra
Dir. Johannes Somary

Picture: Still from the film 'Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo' by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• am
• abend
• da
• es
• kühle
• war
• mache
• dich
• mein
• herze
• rein
• bach
• matthew
• matthäus
• benjamin
• luxon
• johannes
• somary

[redbrian3655]

Though this version clocks in nearly three minutes longer than most, I have never heard it sung with more gentility , fluidity and pathos. To me, Luxon expresses the text better than I personally have ever heard. Luxon's interpretation takes away the more "dance-like pastorale" feeling, and replaces it with a devotional quality that allows his rich voice to express and savour each phrase. Thank you so much for posting this. You have given me new life to an old aria.

[assertLime]

omg kann man das noch langsamer singen?? das ist ja fürchterlich schnell! da kommt ja niemand mehr mit!!!

[blueeyedbehr]

it's as if bach jumped 250 years into the future to compose this aria. considering the text, i find it much more appropriate than the faster dance-like tempi that most other performers take.

a very touching performance which can easily bring me to tears.

[tidaliumpelo]

Benjamin Luxon est sublime comme à son habitude!

[gilad1arnon]

his interpretation in the most natural I heard. Just beautiful simplicity. This narration is so honest. you get the full matthaus before and after this song inside his singing. balance of organ and oboi is so delicate.

[mcgill3432]

certainly on the slow side - but a lovely, elegant voice.

[interpreterr]

@allybari Agree!

[allybari]

@interpreterr Can't say I find it too slow - the phrase has a wonderful sense of elasticity, and allows Ben's voice to caress the words in that magical way of his. As for it not being historically informed - to me, if it's a choice between hearing the piece exactly as Bach might have expected to, or with the benefit of modern instruments and a technically perfect singer - well, I know which I go for. Chacun a son gout, of course.

[bassfanne45]

This man had the most beautiful baritone voice ever.  Thank you for posting.

[mariandelochs]

Wonderful. moving and elegant performance by B. Luxon. Thank you!