The bass voice (basso, encompassing both baritone and bass in our modern terminology) occupies a special place in Bach's sacred vocal music. As the two great Passion settings testify, it was the solo bass that represented the vox Christi or 'voice of Christ', following an established tradition in church music.

Matthias Goerne is here at his most persuasive and beguiling in three of the Cantatas, with superb orchestral and choral support, and the recording includes two orchestral gems from the cantatas as well. Distinguished orchestral soloists include the oboist Albrecht Mayer.