If you're going to base the success of your performance on solo voices, then it goes without saying that you'd better have some exceptional solo voices. Over the years, Joshua Rifkin has shown rather erratic tendencies in his choices of soloists for his one-voice-to-a -part Bach cantata projects, and here is one of the misses. Is it possible that everyone just had a few rare off-nights? (These recordings were made during several performances during 1995 and 1996.) Or that the acoustic in these concerts at the Kirche des Priesterseminars, in Brixen/Bressanone, Italy just threw the singers for a loop? Judging from the generally clear and well-balanced recording, and from the orchestra's sure-footed, coordinated, sonically agreeable presence, that's not the case. The worst "offender" is countertenor Steven Rickards, whose shaky, often tentative technique reminds me of Drew Minter, who also appeared with--and was by far the weakest link in--Rifkin's Bach Ensemble during the 1980s. Incidentally, one of those recordings--Cantatas BWV 80 and BWV 147 (L'Oiseau Lyre)--featured three other excellent soloists (Jane Bryden, Jeffrey Thomas, and Jan Opalach) and a wonderful violin solo by Nancy Wilson, who performs here on viola. I've been recommending that disc for years and still use it as a reference for those two works--and as an example of how fine Rifkin's work can be.

However, I can't find anything much to like here--except for the orchestra, and for Rifkin's pacing, phrasing, and general feel for Bach's drama and tragedy that few conductors seem able to convey on recordings. The solo singing--except for some nice moments from tenor John Elwes--is surprisingly sketchy--certainly not what we expect from today's technically assured Bach singers. What happened to fundamentals like breath control, shaping of phrases, and, I hate to even say it: intonation? These performances are not exemplary, either of Bach's cantatas or of Rifkin's oeuvre. Each of the present cantatas can be found in better performances--even BWV 12 in a one-to-a-part version by Cantus Cölln on Harmonia Mundi--and unless you're just a confirmed Rifkin fan, you're better off looking elsewhere.

--David Vernier