J.S. Bach: Tief gebuckt und voller Reue

Written by Michael Barrett

Associate Artistic Director, NYFOS

In category: Song of the Day

Published September 20, 2017

Today let’s revisit Bach’s Cantata No.199. It’s a favorite of sopranos, for the obvious reason of the absolute beauty and gentleness of the central aria “Tief gebuckt und voller Reue”.  In the best Lutheran tradition, the text addresses God, admitting guilt and weakness, but implores God to be patient. This beautiful performance is sung by Magdalena Kozena and conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. I recommend his wonderful biography “Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven”. It’s scholarly and gives the sense of what Bach’s life and work was really like.

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Michael Barrett is the co-founder and associate artistic director of New York Festival of Song, as well as the co-founder and music director of the Moab Music Festival in Utah. A conductor and a pianist, Michael was a protégé of Leonard Bernstein and serves as music advisor to the Leonard Bernstein Estate.

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