If you're seeking a period-informed performance of Bach, this may not be the recording for you. But if the idea of St. Matthew Passion performed on a grand, late-Romantic scale under the tasteful yet unapologetically expressive baton of Erich Kleiber appeals, you're in for a remarkable experience. Kleiber shapes the work with a sense of drama and sweep, while never losing sight of its spiritual core.

The soloists walk a fine line between Wagnerian gravitas and baroque restraint, resulting in a sound world that feels both reverent and emotionally charged. Koloman von Pataky is a revelation as the Evangelist—his narration is clear, compelling, and profoundly human, making him one of the most memorable interpreters of the role.

That said, there are a number of passages affected by wavering pitch—moments where the tuning veers so dramatically it briefly evokes Stravinsky more than Bach.