Masaaki Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan have once again turned in a superlative volume in their series of discs dedicated to the complete cantatas of J.S. Bach. This volume, number 35, includes four works: Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128; Es ist ein trotzig und versagt Ding, BWV 176; Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen, BWV 87; and Wer mich liebet der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74. Although all of these feature oboes of one sort or another, as always no two works are the same. Auf Christi is scored for two oboes and oboe d'amore plus virtuoso trumpet, Es ist en trotzig for two oboes and oboe da caccia, Bisher habt ihr for two oboes and oboes da caccia with the second oboe doubling on second oboe da caccia, and Wer mich liebet for two oboes and oboe da caccia plus three trumpets and timpani. As always, each one is superbly and sympathetically performed by
Suzuki and his forces, and, as always, every cantata contains many moments of marvel and wonder. To pick just two examples, the heroic trumpet obbligato in the bass aria and the melancholy oboe d'amore in the duet for alto and tenor from Auf Christi are both excellent -- and both are typical of what listeners have come to expect from this well-regarded series of recordings. BIS' super audio sound is as present as light and air.