Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan HK City Hall Concert Hall Reviewed: Feb 20
The 39th Hong Kong Arts Festival officially lays out the welcome mat tonight, but the party was already warming up on Sunday evening in a programme of cantatas by J.S. Bach given by Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan, the period instrument group he founded 20 years ago.
Unwrapping spiritual music in a drab concert hall may seem to harbour an inbuilt squib, but the combination of Bach's astounding craftsmanship and Suzuki's thoughtful direction produced some moving moments.
Suzuki had a commanding group of vocal soloists; the fact that they've collaborated before ensured familiarity with both the music and Suzuki's working style. Stepping forward from the chorus for solo spots, Hana Blazikova (soprano), Robin Blaze (countertenor), Gerd Turk (tenor) and bass Peter Kooij sang to crystalline effect, with never a hint of ego obscuring the music.
The selection of cantatas gave the countertenor most of the limelight. Blaze responded superbly with a musicality that was all the more powerful for its restraint: Ich folge dir nach from Sehet, wir gehen hinauf (BWV159) was truly affecting, as was Blazikova's short gem in Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (BWV147).
Opening Alles nur nach Gottes Willen (BWV72), the chorus was precise, yet light as frothy milk; the orchestra (strings, continuo, oboes and trumpet) was conspicuous throughout with its blend, with Suzuki raising the profile only when prudent. What makes his performances special is that he knows when to leave Bach's music to speak for itself (which is most of the time).
