Cantatas 56 and 82 have often been paired on disc - recordings by such great bass-baritones as Hermann Prey and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (several times) come to mind. Now the magnificent Thomas Quasthoff adds his unique combination of dark tone, intense delivery and technical perfection to the batch. His delivery of 56's aria "Endlich, endlich" is quick and impeccably delivered, long runs and all. Or listen to the lullabye in No. 82, "Schlummert ein," so gorgeously, … mehrseamlessly intoned, that it brings peace and beauty all by itself. All three cantatas are expressions of suffering, and Quasthoff conveys it perfectly, but always with his eye on the prize - salvation. His diction is so clear that the German text might as well be English. The Berliner Barock Solisten play with unmatched beauty and the solo oboist deserves special praise. weniger

CD 1
01 - Ich Will Den Kreuzstab Gerne Tragen Cantata, Bwv 56
02 - 2. Recitativo: "Mein Wandel Auf Der Welt" (Original Version)
03 - 3. Aria: "Endlich, Endlich Wird Mein Joch" (Original Version)
04 - 4. Recitativo: "Ich Stehe Fertig Und Bereit" (Original Version)… mehr
05 - 5. Choral: "Komm, O Tod, Du Schlafes Bruder" (Original Version)
06 - Der Friede Sei Mit Dir: Cantata, Bwv 158
07 - 2. Aria & Choral: Welt, Ade, Ich Bin Dein Müde (Original Version)
08 - 3. Recit: Nun Herr, Regiere Meinen Sinn (Original Version)
09 - 4. Choral: Hier Ist Das Rechte Osterlamm (Original Version)
10 - Cantata "Ich Habe Genug" Bwv 82
11 - 2. Recitativo: Ich Habe Genug! Mein Trost Ist Nur Allein (Original Version)
12 - 3. Aria: Schlummert Ein, Ihr Matten Augen (Original Version)
13 - 4. Recitativo: Mein Gott! Wann Kommt Das Schöne Nun! (Original Version)
14 - 5. Aria: Ich Freue Mich Auf Meinen Tod (Original Version) weniger