J.S. Bach: Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236 Kölner Akademie & Michael Alexander Willens

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Missa in F Major, BWV 233:
• 1 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: I. Kyrie 04:05
• 2 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: II. Gloria in excelsis Deo 05:35
• 3 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: III. Domine Deus 03:09
• 4 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: IV. Qui tollis peccata mundi 04:32
• 5 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: V. Quoniam tu solus sanctus 04:37
• 6 Bach: Missa in F Major, BWV 233: VI. Cum Sancto Spiritu 02:37
• Missa in A Major, BWV 234:
• 7 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: I. Kyrie 05:37
• 8 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: II. Gloria in excelsis Deo 05:37
• 9 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: III. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis 05:58
• 10 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: IV. Qui tollis peccata mundi 06:00
• 11 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: V. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus 03:22
• 12 Bach: Missa in A Major, BWV 234: VI. Cum Sancto Spiritu 03:28
• Missa in G Minor, BWV 235:
• 13 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: I. Kyrie 06:32
• 14 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: II. Gloria in excelsis Deo 03:21
• 15 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: III. Gratias agimus tibi 03:00
• 16 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: IV. Domine Fili unigenite 05:00
• 17 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: V. Qui tollis peccata mundi 03:57
• 18 Bach: Missa in G Minor, BWV 235: VI. Cum Sancto Spiritu 04:54
• Missa in G Major, BWV 236:
• 19 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: I. Kyrie 03:49
• 20 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: II. Gloria in excelsis Deo 04:55
• 21 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: III. Gratias agimus tibi 05:05
• 22 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: IV. Domine Deus 04:09
• 23 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: V. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus 05:03
• 24 Bach: Missa in G Major, BWV 236: VI. Cum Sancto Spiritu 04:07
• Total Runtime 01:48:29

Info for J.S. Bach: Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236

The Kölner Akademie, under the artistic direction of Michael Alexander Willens, presents J.S. Bach: Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236, a monumental exploration of the composer’s four Kyrie–Gloria Masses. Written in the 1730s, during a period of profound artistic consolidation, these works reveal Bach at his most resourceful. Drawn largely from his finest cantata music, the Masses showcase his unparalleled ability to transform earlier material through refined counterpoint, enriched orchestration, and deep sensitivity to the Latin Ordinary. Long overshadowed by the Mass in B minor, these so-called “Lutheran Masses” emerge here as brilliant creations in their own right, each shaped with architectural clarity: six movements, impeccably balanced between choral grandeur and intimate arias.

In this cycle, Bach fuses theological tradition with inventive musical craft. Whether reworking festive choruses, expanding expressive arias, or integrating older settings with newly imagined timbres, he elevates the transformation of earlier material into a profound creative process – producing music that feels both familiar and entirely renewed. By gathering the four Masses into a unified artistic vision, The Kölner Akademie illuminates their shared structural features, vibrant instrumentation, and emotional breadth.

Hanna Herfurtner, soprano
Elvira Bill, mezzo-soprano
Gwilym Bowen, tenor
Thomas Bonni, bass
Kölner Akademie
Michael Alexander Willens, conductor

Michael Alexander Willens
music director of Die Kölner Akademie, studied conducting with John Nelson at the Juilliard School in New York, where he received B.M. and M.M. degrees. He has also studied with Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, as well as choral conducting with Paul Vorwerk. Willens’ broad experience has given him an unusual depth of background and familiarity with performance practice styles ranging from baroque, classical and romantic through to contemporary as well as jazz and pop music.

Mr. Willens has conducted concerts at major concert halls and festivals in Europe, South America, Asia, Iceland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel and the United States, receiving the highest critical praise:

“The success of the whole owed in large measure to the uncommonly precise, yet never affected gestures of Michael Alexander Willens”.

In addition to the standard repertoire, Michael Alexander Willens is dedicated to performing works by lesser-known contemporary American composers and has conducted several world premières, many of which have been broadcast live or filmed for television. He is also keenly interested in re-discovering music from the past and has released over 40 CDs featuring this repertoire. Several of these recordings have been nominated and received awards. They have all received outstanding international reviews, : “Willens achieves an impeccably stylish and enjoyable performance.” (Gramophone ) "…conductor Michael Alexander Willens exploits every bar of the score to fullest expressive effect. (Fanfare)

He has guest conducted orchestras in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Brazil and Israel in addition to his commitment to Die Kölner Akademie.

The Kölner Akademie
takes you on a journey through classical music: expressive, virtuosic, and exact in every detail. From the baroque to the present, the broad repertoire of this unique ensemble, under the artistic direction of its internationally renowned conductor Michael Alexander Willens, has been awarded numerous prizes.

Known and lesser known composers are impressively represented by this period instrumental ensemble.Performances at international festivals, live television and radio broadcasts in connection with their highly acclaimed CD recordings have made the Kölner Akademie well-known far beyond their national borders.

Apart from works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, the ensemble shows their broad musical scope in full detail, especially with their series of world premiere recordings by lesser known composers.

Booklet for J.S. Bach: Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236