New radio on the web.

[Enrique]

Here is what will certainly be regarded as a gift by some of you:

http://bachradio.org/

Though it's a pity they do not play whole works, but only fragments.

[Quijote]

Thanks for the "heads up", Enrique. Love this aria from the site (Cantata BWV 13), very well played, excellent continuo combo (with a 5-string bass!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bss-rU_zgWo#t=150

[Quijote]

For Enrique (if not others) to compare, based on the bass aria from BWV 132 taken from the web page posted above by Enrique. Preferences? Reasons?
1) Enrique's posting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bss-rU_zgWo
2) Koopman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyot...tailpage#t=439
3) Collegium Vocale Gent, Leonhardt-Consort, Herreweghe & Leonhardt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2A6...tailpage#t=553

[Chris]

For Enrique (if not others) to compare, based on the bass aria from BWV 132 taken from the web page posted above by Enrique. Preferences? Reasons?
1) Enrique's posting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bss-rU_zgWo
2) Koopman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyot...tailpage#t=439
3) Collegium Vocale Gent, Leonhardt-Consort, Herreweghe & Leonhardt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2A6...tailpage#t=553

I think they are all very good. It is hard to compare them, since there is a mixture of live and studio recording here, with different conditions. But I would say that 3) is my least favorite, mostly because of the bass; Max van Egmond seems to have a looser sound and a little more vibrato than the others. I think 2) is my favorite. I generally prefer Koopman's Bach cantatas to others (I have his complete set), and he doesn't disappoint here. The articulation in the string instruments is more detached, making the continuo a little more interesting, and a nice contrast to Klaus Mertens' excellent and smooth bass. That said, the more legato strings in 1) work very well here too, especially in this live and more reverberant setting, and the singing by Wolf Matthias Friedrich is truly excellent.