Bach’s “St John Passion”: Tölzer Knabenchor 1985 (Nikolaus Harnoncourt)

The visionary Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the best boy´s choir in those days performed a furious show that must have been shocked the audience. The opening chorus is so extreme in its dynamics, articulation and creativity wich must have been rehearsed in every detail for many, many hours. I never heared it with more heartbreaking enthusiasm, especially of the soprano boys. What a great performance!

I have no doubt that the audience back in 1985 was full of immensely proud parents of every boy who so enthusiastically sang his heart out in front of them on this special occasion, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Bach’s birth. I hope those boys now take the opportunity to view their historic performance today, now almost 40 years later and understand something of their parents’ pride in their contribution to Bach’s music and realise just how blessed they were to be directed by Nicolaus Harnoncourt

I have felt the weight of the world change all too keenly these past weeks, but this - the music of Bach and especially his St Matthew Passion - restores the balance to eclipse each woe with such radiance my faith in God as Love remains, and ever to increase. But how to marry such buoyancy to the brevity of beat as Nikolaus Harnoncourt does is a wonder to me, and one no less profound than is the sound itself so pure. This is an extraordinary performance! Thank you so much for the sharing but then, what else is there to do other than share it like a Disciple spreading the Word, its every wonder! Wunderbar!

58:18 absolutely amazing music and interpretation. Sharp, beautiful, glorious...

Among the Greatest in the world. I am not aware of any better perfect performance.

I have never understood the animosity I have read about towards NH. All the concerts he recorded with TKC are amazing. Robert Holl and Kurt Equiluz ever present and with Immler, Iconomou and Wittek, this is a truly amazing recital. They did Bach proud in his 300th birthday year. Just brilliant.

this is so great. I have the video and watch it every year, the same as their Weihnachtsoratorium with the same choir and same director.

The feverish opening choir is tremendous and overwhelming. It's rare that a piece moves me so.

So much work and LOVE for this composer and his music went into this performance. Amazing.

It is always a good day when you can sit and listen to such a set of beautyifull voices sucxh as these are.

Amazing choir. How do the tutors manage to achieve this kind of dedication from the boys is beyond my understanding. The boys must be very much into this kind of music.

The solo by Helmut Wittek beginning at 1:33:06 is amazing. I believe he has an illustrious musical career.

1:21 solist boy, BRAVO....

Excellent performance here by a young Panajotis Iconomou... his voice really does transport you to another time.

Die Tölzer sind der beste Knabenchor der Welt!

The two boy altos were superb

This is absolutely beautiful.

This is probably close to how the music would have sounded to J S Bach in his own lifetime.

Obra monumental del gran J S Bach y una ejecución e interpretación con gran sensibilidad y pasión. Dios los bendiga. Efraín Dávila R.

Absolutely amazing