Retrospect Ensemble - Bach Oratorios - The Absolute Sound

The Retrospect Ensemble's Bach performances are pretty much ideal - four outstanding soloists, a chorus of 18 that has satisfying heft yet is still light on its feet with contrapuntal passages, and an "original instruments" approach that's bracing but never studied or sterile. The two longest arias are especially ravishing, both soprano Carolyn Sampson's "Steele, deine Spezereien" and countertenor Iestyn Davies' sublime "Ach, bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben". The recorded perspective is close enough for textural clarity, but spacious enough to savor the warmth of the London church venue.