GRAMOPHONE 'CHOICE' EARLY MUSIC TODAY EDITOR'S CHOICE

'Stephen Layton's outstanding new St John is about as state-of-the-art a Bach Passion recording as you'll hear … Ian Bostridge is the master story-teller who surveys all about him, impeccably delivering every nuance of every word … Alongside the top-class and pliable choral singing of Polyphony comes the roll call of impressive soloists … The noble Christ of Neal Davies and the deeply felt singing of Roderick Williams complement the kaleidoscope of vocal expression here with their capacity for reflective commentary, as does Iestyn Davies in a treasurable 'Es ist vollbracht' (Gramophone)

'There's no doubting the choir's passion and poise, whether as a baying mob … or in the expressively balanced unaccompanied chorale verses … Layton's pacing is compelling … It's crowned by Iestyn Davies's sublime account of 'Es ist vollbracht', his pure alto wrapped around the obbligato pathos of Richard Tunnicliffe's viola da gamba. Both Carolyn Sampson's arias are priceless' (BBC Music Magazine)

'This St John Passion brings to the fore the traits of style and taste that are distinguished hallmarks of Layton and the forces he gathers around him … Ian Bostridge is the tenor Evangelist, eloquent, pure of tone, fluent and strong in communicating the import of the German narrative. Neal Davies is a Christus of tender authority. The choir sings with a well-rounded sound, firm accents and with diction that brings the text crisply to life: the spitting out of the word nicht in the passage where the crowd asserts that it has delivered Jesus up to Pilate because he is a malefactor is just one example of how attentive this performance is to the colouring of words. It has been said that the St John Passion has affinities with Baroque opera in its almost theatrical evocation of time and place. Layton … harnesses the dramatic thrust of the Passion while also conveying its sacred, spiritual substance' (The Daily Telegraph)

'Stephen Layton, top soloists, the expert choir of Polyphony and the incomparable Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment perform the St John Passion annually at St John's Smith Square … Concentrate … on the purity of sound, the emotionally expressive yet restrained performance by all and the impeccable attention to text of the soloists. Ian Bostridge lives every word of the narration but never over dramatises. Countertenor Iestyn Davies's almost disembodied account of Es ist vollbracht! (It is finished!) is unforgettable' (The Observer)

'A very welcome new recording … Stephen Layton presents an intelligently perceptive performance, beautifully sung by a fine team of soloists … This recorded version comes finely honed, a deep familiarity with the score not causing any hint of routine but showing itself in an easy fluency as it passes from devotional strength though the depths of pathos and anguish to high drama, the immediate aftermath of the Crucifixion creating a vividly powerful climax … Ian Bostridge brings to the role of Evangelist great authority and potent power … profoundly impressive, with his vocal dexterity, marvellous purity of tone and astonishing sense of involvement achieved through placing great emphasis on the delivery of the text. In Neal Davies we have a Christus who exudes anguish but also considerable poise … Layton's reading gets closer to the heart of the passion story than most and as such, is a recording that ranks very highly indeed. The recorded sound is, as we would expect, superb' (International Record Review)

'There have been many fine recordings of this work … but this is the equal of anything I have heard. Lead by tenor Ian Bostridge as the Evangelist, and Neal Davies as Christ, this is a rivetingly taut and dramatic performance, beautifully recorded' (Dominion Post, New Zealand)

'Stephen Layton directs this intense, dramatic reading with intelligence and integrity, ably assisted by an excellent team of soloists. Ian Bostridge is a superly articulate, agile and expressive Evangelist' (Early Music Today)