Bach - Actus Tragicus – Cantatas BMV 106, 150, 131, 12

The Guardian 80

Vox Luminis/Meunier
(Alpha Classics)

The Belgian group Vox Luminis pares everything down to the smallest forces. For these early cantatas, eight singers and nine instrumentalists are the maximum used. Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, or Actus Tragicus, is taken at a slow speed, convincing on repeated listening. Director, bass Lionel Meunier, plays one of two recorders that colour the sound in this ever consoling cantata. Other highlights: the dissonant lines of the sinfonia of BWV 150 (Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich), the alto aria in BWV 12 (Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen), the aria and chorale in BWV 131 (Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir) and, throughout, the organ playing of Bart Jacobs. You may still prefer a bigger ensemble, but Vox Luminis has a winning purity.