Helmuth Rilling’s landmark edition of Bach’s Complete Works is now available as a new package with all the Cantatas together.

Contains a CD-Rom with all the liner notes included.

''Stylistically, Rilling belongs to a transitional style that hovers between Romantic and Revivalist (historically informed). He still uses operatic singers (oddly enough, far more operatic than Richter’s), he uses a modern instruments orchestra and an operatic choir, both of reduced size though and his basso continuo is once again rather historically informed. Theoretically, it seems like a compromise between the advantages of two eras, but in reality Rilling doesn’t manage to reach Richter’s overall level. His singers are much more uneven (some are good, some are bad, most are simply average) and tend to be extremely operatic (with uncontrollable vibratos). His orchestra and choir are on the same par as Richter’s if not better, but they are not helped by Rilling’s insistence of making them perform as loud and dramatic as possible. This inherent dishonesty and detachment from the spirit of the music (“helped” by singers who routinely fake attachment) degrades the quality of Rilling’s performances in many cantatas or individual movement. On the positive side, Rilling does have among the best soprano (Arleen Augr) and choirs (he uses many) at his disposal.'' bach-cantatas.com