Helmuth Rilling

Over his career, Helmuth Rilling became one of the most respected choral conductors in the world. Rilling gained prominence in an era when period practices were becoming dominant in Bach performance, yet Rilling never used period instruments and has always used a good-sized choir for his performances. He felt that it was impossible to know exactly how Bach's music sounded in his time, not just to the musicians but to Bach's audience. While period practices have their place, Rilling felt they should be used as a guide and not a doctrine. In performance, Rilling did not strive for a blend of choral tone, but a sound that was both controlled and full of character. Rilling's performances became more and more deeply felt and subtle over the years, all of them scrupulously detailed and outstandingly sung.