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Rave Reviews!

“ ...The felicitous results, with the chamber ensemble's pointed, light-textured framework setting off the flexibility and color of the singing, demonstrate yet again how the labors of the musicologists have influenced Bach performance in all styles. Since Futral's opera repertoire takes in demanding coloratura roles including Lucia and the Puritani Elvira, it's no surprise that she's most impressive in those movements and passages calling for virtuosity and dash. She sings the lively outer movements of Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (BWV 51) energetically yet maintains a lovely soft-grained tone...
… The notes in her scales and runs [are] always clearly defined, sung with full tone and bound in a good legato; the run to high C in BWV 51's first movement is free and clear… but the isolated trill at "O wundervolles Spiel!" later in the same cantata [O Holder Tag, Erwunschte Zeit (BWV 210] is excellent and beautiful. In the secco-style recitatives, Futral maintains a basically dignified demeanor but doesn't adopt the static "devotional" manner that sometimes comes with it. She inflects the German text with a natural-sounding, verbal quality, subtly lengthening important words and timing their articulations, as lied singers do, and varying the pace and delivery...J. Reilly Lewis, leading from the continuo organ — which registers clearly within the orchestral textures — sets judicious tempos, accommodating his soloist with a slight acceleration in the "Hochster" aria of BWV 51, bringing out the subtle lilt of the triple-time numbers as well as the agitated undercurrent of some of the recitatives. The members of the Washington Bach Consort play well …. In the recitatives, the harpsichordist adds a few discreet flourishes, clearly but unobtrusively registered in the sonic frame.”
STEPHEN FRANCIS VASTA
OPERA NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009
Read full review at Opera News Online

“Lovely Elizabeth Futral sings beautifully and clearly, with a delightfully crystalline quality. Mr. Lewis and his Washington Bach Consort prove to be able partners…The engineering is especially good, with depth, clarity, and a realistic perspective of the soloist and ensemble. Well-written notes, texts, and translations (as well as a generous recorded time) complete this very attractive production.”
-BOYER
American Record Guide
November/December 2009

****& 1/2 STARS PERFORMANCE!.......... ****& 1/2 STARS SOUND!

"…Futral has a warm, colorful voice that's at its best in the music's broadly lyrical passages, and in the recitatives, which she brings excitingly to life with supple expressiveness; in her performance, the recitatives are no mere filler, but essential, musically invigorating parts of the whole. Futral is fully secure in the more florid coloratura passage work… J. Reilly Lewis leads the Washington Bach Consort, a period instrument ensemble, in bright, lively performances… Each of the cantatas includes at least one obbligato instrument, and the soloists play admirably. The sound is clean and bright, with a good sense of presence.”
Stephen Eddins, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
Read full review at All Music Guide
June, 2009

"She has a wide range of expression and in BWV 51 she nicely contrasts the virtuoso outer movements with an inward and almost otherworldly - seemingly at some distance - reading of the recitative (tr. 2), while she initially adopts a thinner tone - Emma Kirkby-like - in the chorale (tr. 4). She blends well with the flute in BWV 209 and is overtly dramatic in the opening recitative of BWV 210 (tr. 11). Technically she is superb and I have nothing but praise for her readings ... Elizabeth Futral's readings are excellent and the recorded sound clean and atmospheric...In BWV 51 she is partnered by a solo trumpeter with expertise in florid playing. Josh Cohen fulfils all our expectations on this disc...an excellent ensemble and they are responsive to dance rhythms that Bach employs every so often in his music...a worthy addition to any collection of Bach's vocal music."
Goran Forsling
MusicWeb International, (UK)
Read full review at MusicWeb International
September 2009

Three virtuosic soprano solo cantatas by J.S. Bach, performed by the internationally celebrated coloratura soprano Elizabeth Futral and the acclaimed period instrument Washington Bach Consort, J. Reilly Lewis, conductor. Elizabeth Futral has established herself as one of the major coloratura sopranos in the world today. In her many operatic rolls, she has appeared in and premiered works with the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, and many other top companies. Equally at home on the concert stage, she has worked with conductors Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson Thomas, and composer Phillip Glass. Futral excels equally in performing works from the baroque, classical and modern eras. Here, she is joined by the nation's premiere baroque orchestra, the Washington Bach Consort, directed by J. Reilly Lewis.

Performed on period instruments.

Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen!, BWV 51
1. Aria: Jauchzet Gott - (4:18)
2. Recitative: Wir beten - (2:27)
3. Aria: Hochster, mache deine Gute - (4:48)
4. Chorale: Sei Lob und Preis - (3:41)
5. Aria: Alleluja! - (2:24)

Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209
6. Sinfonia - (6:41)
7. Recitative: Non sa che sia dolore - (0:53)
8. Aria: Parti pur e con dolore - (9:27)
9. Recitative: Tuo saver al tempo - (0:37)
10. Aria: Ricetti gramezza e pavento - (5:50)

O holder Tag, erwunschte Zeit BWV 210
11. Recitative: O holder Tag - (1:13)
12. Aria: Spielet, ihr beseelten Lieder - (6:48)
13. Recitative: Doch, haltet ein - (1:08)
14. Aria: Ruhet hie, matte Tone - (6:40)
15. Recitative: So glaubt man denn - (2:17)
16. Aria: Schweigt, ihr Floten - (5:11)
17. Recitative: Was Luft? was Grab? - (1:47)
18. Aria: Grober Gonner - (2:51)
19. Recitative: Hochteurer Mann - (1:44)
20. Aria: Seid begluckt - (5:42)

TOTAL TIME: 76:44

Additional Information