Johann Sebastian Bach – Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Pygmalion | Raphaël Pichon
Julie Roset, soprano
Beth Taylor, mezzo-soprano
Lucile Richardot, alto
Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, tenor
Christian Immler, bass
Label: Harmonia Mundi
🔗 Harmonia Mundi
Recorded at Cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Liban, Paris
Duration: 107 minutes (2 CDs)
📀 Also available for streaming on major platforms
Pygmalion and conductor Raphaël Pichon present their first recording of the Mass in B minor, BWV 232, following a series of acclaimed Bach projects. Known for their refined musicianship and historically informed approach, the ensemble brings new expressive depth to one of the most monumental works in the Western canon.
Pichon’s interpretation favors contrast and emotional urgency, offering a richly detailed sound world shaped by historical insight and expressive freedom. The ensemble uses period instruments, and the performance is framed by years of concert experience — resulting in a reading that is both vibrant and coherent.
The soloists — Julie Roset, Beth Taylor, Lucile Richardot, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, and Christian Immler — deliver performances of exceptional refinement, with expressive depth and precise musical dialogue. Richardot’s Agnus Dei is both powerful and introspective, and Gonzalez Toro brings lyrical grace to the Benedictus. In the Et incarnatus est, silence becomes as expressive as sound — especially in the moment of stillness that closes the movement, before the Crucifixus begins. It’s a gesture that underscores the mystery of the Incarnation with striking restraint.
Pichon’s pacing and attention to texture help maintain coherence across the Mass’s expansive structure — particularly in the second half, where the sequence from the Credo to the Dona nobis pacem can often feel sectional or diffuse. Movements like Crucifixus, Sanctus, and the final Dona nobis pacem are marked by striking textural interplay and expressive direction, bringing both clarity and dramatic flow to this monumental score.
This new recording stands among the most compelling recent versions of the Mass in B minor, offering a distinctive voice beside landmark interpretations by Herreweghe, Suzuki, and Gardiner. Whether you’re discovering this masterpiece or returning to it, Pygmalion’s Mass in B minor is a vital and beautifully executed recommendation.
Subscribe to our newsletter