Customer Reviews

Bach - Mass in B minor BWV 232 · Magnificat · Cantate BWV 80 / Gens · A. Scholl · Prégardien · Kooy · Herreweghe (+ CD-Rom)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Herreweghe has become a critical darling among Bach conductors, and this Mass in B minor is certainly worth the buy. I decided to purchase it after seeing Herreweghe perform it live. But now, after some months, the recording is not one that I feel compelled to return to. It basically lacks the passion that drives, for instance, Gardiner in his exhilarating version. There's nothing wrong in Herreweghe's performance by itself, but there's nothing particularly extraordinary either. Sure, choir and soloists are very good, and the orchestra plays nicely, helped by a recording that places it very upfront. But the general smoothness of sound, the much more legato playing than you're probably used to among period instrumentalists and a certain lack of energy make the work lose some of its grandeur. The curious thing is, you'll probably notice this only when comparing it with other recordings (Gardiner and Hickox come to mind, but even Karl Richter is more energetic). The Magnificat has the same assets and liabilities. It's a safe performance, and whoever can't stand Gardiner's fast pace will do no wrong going for it. Still, Hickox would be a better proposition for my taste, with some of the textural clarity that Herreweghe seemed to find only in his splendid second recording of the St. Matthew Passion.

...this is an excellent recording.

This release is one of exceptional value: Not only do you recieve Herreweghe's majestic interpretation of Bach's B-Minor Mass, but also the immortal Magnificat in D-Minor, Cantata 80 "Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott, and a well organized CD-Rom with too many features to name.

This release should exceed your expectations. The Harmonia Mundi sound quality is excellent. Both the choir and orchestra are immaculately balanced. The choir, by the way, is proportioned four-singers-per-part as indicated by Bach himself. This approach by the Collegium Vocale leads to the most appropriate and authentic renditions of Bach music available. Don't let the 16-choir member proportions prevent you from buying this great release because the overall puissance of this record is still retained by Herreweghe's powerful conducting. It still sounds very much like a large choir (although a 16 persons choir was considered large in Bach's time). It is, in fact, the grandest and most satisfying B-Minor Mass/Magnificat/BWV 80 I have yet heard. Play it LOUD!!!

The singers are all excellent beyond description.

The highlight of the disc was the astronomical "Omnes Generationes" of the D-Minor Magnificat.

If you like this set, you might want to consider Harmonia Mundi's similar 3CD+1CDROM sets including "The Famous Cantatas", "St. Matthew Passion", "St. John Passion/1724 Version", with the Collegium Vocale under Herreweghe and "The Christmas Oratorio" with the RIAS Kammerchor under Rene Jacobs.

Beautiful chorus (though a little breathy with the sixteenth note runs here and there) and this is the richest, fullest period instrument orchestral sound I've ever heard.

But where is the dance inherent to all of Bach's music? Not to be found here. Everything is, I think, too reverent (I suppose an emphasis on the divine but that completely loses the earthly aspect of Christ). The Cum Sancto Spiritu sounds like a fast dirge, the Crucifixus lacks a pulse (sounds like Palestrina badly performed). There is very little dynamic variation. It feels like Herreweghe drew one long legato line from the opening to the last bar.

I will keep it in my collection (B minor mass obsessive that I am), but if you want raw life instead of classical trance, get Gardiner's recording, or better yet, find Rilling's 1999 recording - it is truly full of life (Ingeborg Danz will break your heart in the Agnus Dei, the Sanctus will rock your bones) and thus all the more transcendent.

I just finished listening to this marvelous recording and I'm still flying high! I have always enjoyed Herreweghe's interpretations and his wonderful choir. The purity of tone, especially the sopranos, is beautiful. Brava, ladies! No warbling vibratos here and no boy sopranos singing under the pitch either! The soloists are all top notch. I will come back to this recording again and again!

For any other Apple computer enthusiasts out there, you will pleased to know that the CD-Rom is Mac-compatible. I fully expected to have to give it away to one of my unenlightened friends (in other words, a PC owner). I've barely scratched the surface on it so far but it looks like hours of fun and information.

I am an experienced listener and a huge Bach fan. I have listened to hundereds of hours of his music, and I have to say that this recording is one of my absolute favorites. This is THE interpretation of the Mass in B minor.

[NB: comments refer exclusively to the B Minor Mass.] I guess it depends what you're after, but to me this recording is far from being "simply the best there is". Sure, Andreas Scholl is luminous (so is Michael Chance on the Gardiner). But the Mass is fundamentally a choral piece, one written by a devout Christian and master composer at the height of his artistry. As such, it conveys (or ought to convey) powerful emotion encompassing the pathos and joyful exuberance embodied in the text of the Mass. Herreweghe's choir is technically superb, but their flaccid rendition of this piece strikes me as offensively languid, insipid, and too polite. News flash: the Kyrie IS an anguished cry for mercy; the harsh chromaticism and the agonized strettos in both fugues practically spell it out in neon. The "Et in terra pax" section drags uncomfortably. The 'Cum Sancto Spiritu" is strangely muted and lacking in energy and conviction, an affect which typifies most of H's faster movements. The singers consistently sacrifice passion and expressive range for a kind of laxative smoothness. If Gardiner is "rough" by comparision, so be it: I'll gladly accept a few blend anomalies for the inner fervor, emotion, and sense of drive I get in return. Herreweghe's objective here seems to be an undeniably beautiful but highly restrained sound that makes his ensemble appear tentative and fearful of disturbing anyone. Fine for tea parties and libraries, maybe, but this is Bach. 3 stars for excellent solo singing and orchestra, but when it comes to interpreting Bach, Herreweghe ought to wake up and grow a pair.

I don't know what's wrong in Chestnutt Hill, but this magnificent recording of the B Minor Mass is quite simply the best there is. The choir and orchestra are unmatched in any other recording, not even Gardiner brings this quality of sound. As for the soloists, they are heavenly, look in vain for a more searching Agnus Dei than Andreas Scholl's.

The rigorous, "sprouts and yogurt" approach to Bach's choral music by the original instument movement has always left me hungry for something more substantial. And here it is. Herreweghe gives us a softer, more humanistic approach, with luminous vocalists and top notch instrumental soloists. Andreas Scholl is sublime. This is a B Minor Mass that really captures my imagination, a pefect balance between scholarly insight and warm expressiveness. I think my Gardiner CDs will be collecting dust in the forseeable future.

Philippe Herreweghe is the musician that really understood what is the substance of Bach's music. This reccording of the Mass in B-minor made me through away the dozen of other baroque versions of this summit in Bach writting. Herreweghe has probably got the best choir the world. It does miracles in the complex fugues. Andreas Scholl is at the same level with the choir, perfect. The orchestra is incisive and lively. The oboe of marcel Ponseele is, as usual, a pure wonder. The words are lacking to praise such a reccording. If you have the chance to hear this in concert, chivers and tears are garanteed.

I regret that I must rave so here, but this is the finest recording overall that I think I've ever heard....of any music! I own six versions of the Bach B minor Mass. This one leaves them all waiting at the starting gate.
The tempi are great, first of all. Not your sewing-machine pace of the
likes of the authentic instrument crew (like the harsh Gardiner recordings), but tempi that are based upon
the way one hears, and needs to hear, harmonic progression. In Bach the harmonic progressions are to be savored, in spite of the remark by his son that Bach loved spritely music. We have no idea what that meant anyway....just give a great musician like Herreweghe the reins and we get result like this. The choir's sound is unearthly. Lush, clear, and recorded
to well-nigh perfect balance with the instruments. All the soloists are wonderful. Phrasing is heavenly, full of musical intuition and on the mark. In short, just amazing gorgeous musical perfection.