Word: richter
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Sheer size is a clear departure from the actual forces available in Bach's time for an indoor performance. Richter's ensemble numbers 140 singles and orchestral personnel; Bach's optimum number was less than half that. The Bach Choir's is a modern one, a product of the great symphonies after 1800. Between Bach's time and our own, instruments were generally engineered to be louder and more precise in pitch. Those listening to a cantata in the 1730's were not steeped in a tradition of massive sound; the scale of volume-production then was a fraction...
...Mass is no Mendelssohnian adaptation from the original. Careful attention was paid to ornaments, most noticeable in the brilliantly-played trumpet parts. Richter varied his tempi quite a bit though they were generally fast by standards of only twenty years ago (such as on the Scherchen recording of 1952). Richter had the courage to vary the tempi quite a bit to his taste. The bass aria Quoniam tu solus was taken very slowly. The horn playing in the obbligato solo to this aria is the best that might ever be expected. The soloist exhibited a precision of control that allowed...
...balance, too, the Choir excelled. Rather than a collection of sopranos with others, it was a true equality of vocal parts so necessary to Bach's complex polyphony. Richter generally chose legato articulation, but the choir handled the staccato Pleni sunt coeli passage with case. The attention paid their conductor is yet another point: Richter varied his tempi suddenly, but singers and orchestra followed right along...
...Richter is not an exciting conductor to watch, but he does communicate his enthusiasm to players and audience. From the very start it was clear that he was not afraid to build long phrases. The last chorus, Dona nobis pacem, was begun slowly but picked up speed in a controlled manner leading to a majestic conclusion...
...attention paid to details might well be a lesson for American ensembles. As soon as Richter turned from the audience to the performers, the music began--no tuning was done with the conductor on stage. The chorus stood up and sat noiselessly with no bother about scores or seats. Small matters, no doubt, but these were further aspects of the group's proud professionalism...