Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 2 - BWV 71, 131, 106

"Gott!" That's how this disc begins. No overture or instrumental prelude of any kind, just a lusty C-major "Gott!" repeated three times, as trumpets, oboes, and recorders play triumphant arpeggios. Cantata No. 71, Gott ist mein König ("God is my King"), is unusual in other ways, too. It's one of the few cantatas in which Bach left clear indications about which portions of the choruses are to be sung by soloists only and which are to be sung by a small choir. Conductor Masaaki Suzuki has done well, not only with his top-notch choir and period-instrument orchestra, but also with soloists who blend beautifully with each other. The other two compositions included here are more subdued affairs. Cantata No. 131, Aus der Tiefe ("From the depths"), has a good bit of contrast (including a couple of lively choruses) for such a penitential work. Among its many wonderful moments is bass Peter Kooy in duo with the marvelous baroque oboist Marcel Ponseele while soprano Midori Suzuki floats a plaintive chorale melody above them. The gently comforting funeral cantata No. 106, often called the "Actus tragicus," is one of Bach's best-loved works; the key moment at its center, in which a strict fugue for chorus fades away to leave the pure-toned soprano Aki Yanagisawa with an a cappella call for Jesus, is breathtaking. Now, both of these cantatas have long, intricate lines, notably in their final choruses, that work better with soloists only, and they've been recorded that way more than once. But, if you're going to have a choir sing them, you probably couldn't do better than this one. --Matthew Westphal