Bach, J S - 3CD-BOX: Christmas Cantatas - Herreweghe, Philippe (conductor)
Collegium Vocale Ghent
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor
2010 marks the 40 anniversary of Collegium Vocale Ghent: founded by Philippe Herreweghe at a time when the Baroque revival was still an affair for specialists, the Belgian choir has been at the very heart of the rediscovery of Bach's sacred music. Abundantly illustrated and elegantly presented, these nine CD-books offer you the entire collection of Bach/Herreweghe recordings.
"Forty years after its foundation it's all too easy to take the excellence and consistency of Collegium Vocale Ghent for granted: back in 1970 there wasn't any such ensemble in mainland Europe. Philippe Herreweghe, a psychiatry student, founded CVG to put his ideas into practice...CVG became part of the first complete Bach cantata project for Telefunken, Herreweghe, at hospital in the day, conducting his choir in the evening sessions... Presentation is exemplary: top quality at mid price, and a birthday gift that really will keep on giving."
(Andrew McGregor, BBC Music Magazine, June 2010)