Matthäus-Passion BWV 244
Discography - Part 1

Complete Recordings 1900-1949

Part 2: Complete Recordings 1950-1959 >

1

J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Omits 6 - 10, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27 - 29, 34 - 36, 38 - 39, 46, 48, 49, 51, 57, 58, 60, 61, 64-68, 70, 74 - 76; abridges 37, 47, 50, 52, 59, 73, 78

David McKinley Williams

Choir of St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City

Soprano: Ruth Shaffner; Alto: Pearl Benedict-Jones; Tenor: Allan Jones; Baritone: Donald Pirnie; Bass: Frank Cuthberg

Victor Set Album M-138 (11285-11296)
Victor Set Album AM-138 (11297-11308)

Mar 23, Apr 19, May 6 & 10, 1932

24 12" 78 rpm sides

Recorded at St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City, New York, USA.
Twice the same album with different catalogue numbers 12.
Source: The Victor Red Seal Discography, by John R. Bolig (2020)

2

J.S. Bach: Matthäuspassion BWV 244

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244

Hans Weisbach

Leipziger Universitätskantorei und Madrigalkreis & Knabenchor der Petri-Schule / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (or Leipziger Symphonieorchester)

Soprano: Elisabeth Feuge; Alto: Margarete Klose; Tenor: Káláman Pataky; Bass-Baritone [Jesus]: Paul Schöffler; Bass [Arias]: Kurt Böhme

Acante / Preiser Records

Apr 19, 1935

2-CD / TT: 145:45

Recorded at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, Germany.
Buy this album at:  
2-CD: Amazon.com

3

J.S. Bach: The Passion According to St. Matthew

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - sung in English

Serge Koussevitzky

Harvard Glee Club & Radcliffe Choral Society (Chorus Master: George Wallace Woodworth) / Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tenor [Evangelist]: John Priebe; Bass [Jesus]: Frederick Lechner; Soprano: Jeannette Vreeland; Contralto: Kathryn Meisle; Bass [Arias]: Keith Faulkner
Ernst Victor Wolff (Harpsichord) [steel-framed instrument by Maendler-Schramm]; Carl Weinrich (Organ)

RCA Victor
Rockport Records RR5012/4

Mar 26, 1937 (Good Friday)

3-CD / TT: 192:32

Recorded live at Symphony Hall, Boston, MA, USA.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Serge Koussevitzky
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Rockport 3-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

4

J.S. Bach: St Matthew Passion

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244

Willem Mengelberg

Amsterdam Toonkunstoor & "Zanglust" Jongenskoor (Chorus Master: Willem Hespe) / Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam

Tenor [Evangelist]: Karl Erb; Bass [Jesus]: Willem Ravelli; Soprano: Jo Vincent; Contralto: Ilona Durigo; Tenor [Arias]: Louis van Tulder; Bass [Arias]: Hermann Schey

Philips / Naxos / Columbia

Apr 2, 1939

4-LP / TT:
2-CD / TT: 159:12

Recorded at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Holland.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Willem Mengelberg
Buy this album at: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

5

J.S. Bach: Matthäuspassion

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Omits 18, 19, 28-31, 34, 37, 38, 41, 56, 61, 65, 66, 70, 75

Günther Ramin

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Members of the Gewandhauschor and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Tenor [Evangelist, Arias]: Karl Erb; Baritone [Jesus]: Gerhard Hüsch; Soprano: Tiana Lemnitz; Contralto: Friedel Beckmann; Bass [Pilatus, Petrus, Hohepriester, Judas, Arias]: Siegfried Schulze; [Maids]: Two Thomaners
Max Fest (Organ); Hans Heintze (Harpsichord); Willy Rebhan (Continuo-Cello)

Calig CAL-30859/60
EMI Historical
Documents
Membran
Preiser Records

Mar 1941

2-CD / TT: 130:33

1^st recording of Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 by G. Ramin.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Günther Ramin
Listen to this recording at Rapidshare: CD-1 | CD-2
Buy this album at:
Calig 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Documents 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.de
Membran 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Preiser 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Quadromania 4-CD: Amazon.com
Other Issues:
Complete recording:
9. LP Eterna 820 625-627 (3 LP)
10. LP Calig CAL 30 859-61 (3 LP)
Selections:
11. LP Eterna 820 628
Mvt. 1, 6, 10, 20, 29, 30, 42, 44, 49, 54, 64, 68

6

J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion [V-2]

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Omits 19, 23, 28, 29, 38, 40, 41, 48 - 51, 55, 61, 64 - 66, 70, 75; abridges 10, 12, 34, 35, 37, 39, 52, 54, 59, 63, 67, 73, 76, 78

Bruno Kittel

Bruno-Kittel-Chor & Ein Knabenchor / Berliner Philharmoniker

Tenor [Evangelist, Arias]: Walther Ludwig; Bass-Baritone [Jesus]: Hans-Hermann Nissen; Soprano [1^st & 2^nd Magd, Arias]: Tilla Briem; Alto [Arias]: Gusta Hammer; Bass [Judas, Petrus, Pilatus, Hoherepriester, Arias]: Fred Drissen

Polydor / Grammophon / Deutsche Grammophon 67951/67968
Gebhardt JGCD-0053/2

Aug 24, 26, 28-29 + 31 & Sep 1, 1942

18 x 78 rpm
2-CD / TT: 132:59

Recorded in Berlin, Germany.
2^nd recording of Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 by B. Kittel.
Polydor / Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon 67951/67968 (19 x 78 rpm; 37 sides) have all the same cat. nos.: 67951 [mx. gs 1925 gs IX, gs 1926 gs IX], 67952 [mx. gs 1909 gs IX, gs 1914 gs IX], 67953 [mx. gs 1915 gs IX, gs 1922 gs IX], 67954 [mx. gs 1913 gs IX, gs 1929 gs IX], 67955 [mx. gs 1912 gs IX, gs 1921 gs IX], 67956 [mx. gs 1934 gs IX, gs 1937 gs IX], 67957 [mx. gs 1910 gs IX, gs 1938 gs IX], 67958 [mx. gs 1916 gs IX, gs 1917 gs IX], 67959 [mx. gs 1930 gs IX, gs 1931 gs IX], 67960 [mx. gs 1908 gs IX, gs 1939 gs IX], 67961 [mx. gs 1928 gs IX, gs 1932 gs IX], 67962 [mx. gs 1935 gs IX, gs 1936 gs IX], 67963 [mx. gs 1923 gs IX, gs 1927 gs IX], 67964 [mx. gs 1919 gs IX, gs 1924 gs IX], 67965 [mx. gs 1920 gs IX, gs 1940 gs IX], 67966 [mx. gs 1911 gs IX, gs 1933 gs IX], 67967 [mx. gs 1906 gs IX, gs 1918 gs IX], 67968 [mx. gs 1907 gs IX].
“Deutsche Grammophon Centenary Collection Vol. 1 - The Early Years 1898-1947” (Deutsche Grammophon 459065-2, 5-CD) includes the Chorus Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder [7:41].
”J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion (Excerpts); Mozart: Requiem” (Philips SGR-6011, 3-CD, issued in Japan) includes excerpts.
“Centenary Collection 1941: Bruno Kittel / Mozart: Requiem” (Deutsche Grammophon 459004-2, CD, TT: 69 min) includes the closing chorus..
Buy this album at:
Gebhardt 2-CD (2004): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Deutsche Grammophon 5-CD (1998) [Closing Chorus]: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Deutsche Grammophon CD (1998) [Closing Chorus]: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

7

J.S. Bach: Trauerode, BWV 198 [V-1]
Margrete Klose in Oper und Konzert [V-1]

Excerpts from Matthäus-Passion BWV 244:
1. Aria for Alto Buß und Reu' knirscht das Sünderberz entzwei (Mvt. 6) [5:18]
2. Aria for Soprano Blute nur, du liebes (Mvt. 8) [5:07]
3. Aria for Tenor & Chorus Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen (Mvt. 20) [5:39]
4. Aria for Bass Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder! (Mvt. 42) [3:17]
5. Chorale Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden (Mvt. 62)
6. Recitative for Tenor Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerri (Mvt. 63a) [1:31]
7. Chorus Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen (Mvt. 63b) [0:20]
8. Chorus Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder (Mvt. 68) [8:10]
9. Aria for Alto Erbarme Dich, mein Gott (Mvt. 39) []
10. Arioso: Ach Golgatha (Mvt. 59) []

Clemens Krauss

Wiener Philharmoniker

Soprano: Trude Eipperle; Contralto: Margarete Klose; Tenor: Julius Patzak; Bass: Ludwig Weber

Archipel ARPCD-0252
STH-1203

Apr 3, 1944

CD / TT: 74:05
2-CD / TT:

Recorded in Vienna, Austria. Most probably from a complete recording.
Archipel CD includes: 1-8. Other work: Cantata BWV 198 conducted by H. Scherchen.
STH 2-CD includes: 1, 9-10.
Buy this album at:
Archipel CD: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Archipel Music Download: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

8

J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion (Part I)
Bach: Matthaeus Passion (Part One)

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Part One Only; abridges Nos. 10, 12, 19, and 29

Bruno Walter

The Westminster Choir & Junior Choirs of the Pius X of Liturgical Music / New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Tenor [Evangelist]: Walter Hain; Bass [Jesus]: Lorenzo Alvary; Soprano: Nadine Conner; Alto: Jean Watson; Baritone: Mack Harrell; Baritone: Herbert Janssen

Bruno Walter Society / Minerva / Phonographe

1943 or Apr 1, 1945

CD / TT: 78:34

Recorded live in New York, NY, USA.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Bruno Walter
Buy this album at: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

9

Bach: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (Abridged - Sung in English) [V-1]

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244, sung in English as translated and adapted by the Rev. Dr. Troutbeck (abridged version)
The opening chorus and many other parts are omitted.
Part one / CD-1: Nos. 2,3,6-9,11,15,17,18,22,24-28, 30-23
Part two / CD-2: Nos. 42-47,49,50,52-57,59,60,62-64,67,69,71-74,77,78.

Leopold Stokowski

Greater Los Angeles Chorus (Chorus Master: J. Arthur Lewis) / Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra

Soprano: Olive Mae Beach; Contralto: Clemence Gifford; Tenor: Brian Sullivan (as: Joseph Sullivan); Bass: Tudor Williams; Baritone: Leopold Wintner

Private Edition

Aug 29, 1946

2-CD / TT: 95:14

Recorded live at Hollywood Bowl, California, USA. It’s a radiobroadcast for the armed forces.
Listen on YouTube:
Matthäus-Passion BWV 244: Complete Work [92:37]

10

J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion · G. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Revised by Elgar & Atkins; Sung in English, and the translation was done by Troutbeck & Johnson. Omits Nos. 11, 21, 65, 66; Abridged Nos. 10, 12

Reginald Jacques

The Bach Choir / The Jacques Orchestra

Soprano: Elsie Suddaby; Contralto: Kathleen Ferrier; Tenor: Eric Greene; Bass [Jesus]: Henry Cummings; Bass [Arias]: William Parsons; Bass [Judas, Peter]: Gordon Clinton

Richmond / Decca / Dutton / Membran

Jun, Aug 1947

3-CD / TT: 175:09

A CD transfer from this recording includes 15 Arias & Choruses. From the liner notes to the CD edition on Membran: This production is made up of a 'Highlights' recording from 1947 supplemented by 1948 recordings of several of the missing numbers. Why these original recordings did not lead to a complete recording (the bass aria 'come, healing fross', for example, is still missing) is not known today." Recorded at Kingsway Hall, London, England.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Reginald Jacques
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

11

J.S. Bach: Matthaus Passion [V-2]

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244

Fritz Lehmann

Großer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks & the Boys’ Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale Berlin / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

Tenor [Evangelist, Arias]: Helmut Krebs; Baritone [Jesus]: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Soprano: Elfriede Trötschel; Alto: Diana Eustrati; Bass [Arias]: Friedrich Härtel
Silvia Kind (Harpsichord); P. Hoffman (Organ)

Vox DLP-6070
Pantheon ALB-2
Music & Arts CD-1091
Dante LYS-619-621
Documents 231135

Apr 9-10, 1949 (Easter)

4-LP / TT:
4-LP / TT: 200:31
3-CD / TT: 199:21
3-CD / TT: 196:13
3-CD / TT:

Recorded live at Haus des Rundfunks (Masurenallee Saal 1), Berlin, Germany by Rundfunk der DDR. Recording enginner: Siegfried Mitlacherin.
See: Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - conducted by Fritz Lehmann
Buy this album at:
Music & Arts 3-CD (2006): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music & Arts Music Download [198:49]: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Dante 3-CD (2000): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Documents 3-CD (2010): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Documents Music Download [197:28]: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

Part 2: Complete Recordings 1950-1959 >

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (December 2000 - January 2023)
Thanks to contributors: Yoël L. Arbeitman (May 2010); Francisco Billeke (March 2013); René de Cocq (October 2001); Willem van Erk (March 2006, June 2006, December 2006); Ronni Eshed (March 2010); Matthias Fabig (April 2022); Matthias Hansen (September 2009); Dr. Gert den Hartogh (August 2006); Jos Hoogenbosch; Manfred Krugmann (June 2012); Riccardo Nughes (September 2001); Philip Peters, Eric Spicer (August 2004); Teri Noel Towe (December 2001, April-May 2007)

Matthäus-Passion BWV 244: Details
Complete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029
Recordings of Individual Movements: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | BWV 244a | BWV 244b
Systemetic Discussions: Part 1: Mvts. 1-8 | Part 2: Mvts. 9-20 | Part 3: Mvts. 21-29 | Part 4: Mvts. 30-40 | Part 5: Mvts. 41-50 | Part 6: Mvts. 51-57 | Part 7: Mvts. 58-63b | Part 8: Mvts. 63c-68 | Part 9: Role of the Evangelist
Individual Recordings: BWV 244 - L. Bernstein | BWV 244 - G.C. Biller | BWV 244 - F. Brüggen | BWV 244 - J. Butt | BWV 244 - R. Chailly | BWV 244 - S. Cleobury | BWV 244 - J. Daus | BWV 244 - D. Fasolis | BWV 244 - W. Furtwängler | BWV 244 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 244 - W. Gönnenwein | BWV 244 - P. Goodwin | BWV 244 - E.z. Guttenberg | BWV 244 - N. Harnoncourt | BWV 244 - P. Herreweghe | BWV 244 - R. Jacques | BWV 244 - H.v. Karajan | BWV 244 - O. Klemperer | BWV 244 - T. Koopman | BWV 244 - S. Koussevitzky | BWV 244 - S. Kuijken | BWV 244 - F. Lehmann | BWV 244 - G. Leonhardt | BWV 244 - P.J. Leusink | BWV 244 - E.&R. Mauersberger | BWV 244 - H. Max | BWV 244 - P. McCreesh | BWV 244 - W. Mengelberg | BWV 244 - K. Münchinger | BWV 244 - R. Norrington | BWV 244 - G. Oberfrank | BWV 244 - S. Ozawa | BWV 244 - A. Parrott | BWV 244 - G. Ramin | BWV 244 - S. Rattle | BWV 244 - K. Richter | BWV 244 - H. Rilling | BWV 244 - H.J. Rotzsch | BWV 244 - H. Scherchen | BWV 244 - G. Solti | BWV 244 - C. Spering | BWV 244 - M. Suzuki | BWV 244 - J.v. Veldhoven | BWV 244 - B. Walter | BWV 244 - F. Werner | BWV 244 - M. Wöldike
Articles: Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244 [T.N. Towe] | Two Easter St. Matthew Passions (Plus One) [U. Golomb] | St. Matthew Passion from Harnoncourt [D. Satz] | The Passion according to Saint Matthew BWV 244 [J. Rifkin] | The Relationship between BWV 244a (Trauermusik) and BWV 244b (SMP Frühfassung) [T. Braatz] | Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Early History (A Selective, Annotated Bibliography) [W. Hoffman] | Spiritual Sources of Bach's St. Matthew Passion [W. Hoffman] | Bach and the "Great Passion" [D.G. Lebut Jr.] | The Genesis of Bach's `Great Passion': 1724-29 [W. Hoffman] | Early Performances of Bach's SMP [T. Braatz]