Charpentier: Messe à quatre choeurs [Import]

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (Composer), Jeffrey Skidmore (Conductor), Ex Cathedra Chamber Choir and Baroque Orchestra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ex Cathedra Chamber Choir and Baroque Orchestra
• Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore
• Composer: Marc-Antoine Charpentier
• Audio CD (February 10, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B0000Y37CY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,626 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Salve Regina A Trios Choeurs

2. Kyrie

3. Gloria

4. Chant Assumpta Est Maria

5. Credo

6. Chant Ave Maris Stella

7. Sanctus And Benedictus

8. Agnus Dei

9. Domine, Salvum Fac Regem

10. Salut De La Veille Des 'O': O Salutaris Hostia

11. Premier 'O': O Sapientia

12. Deuxieme 'O': O Adonai

13. Troisieme 'O': O Radix Jesse

14. Quatrieme 'O': O Clavis David

15. Cinquieme 'O': Oriens

16. Sixieme 'O': O Rex Gentium

17. Septieme 'O': O Emmanuel

18. Le Reniement De St Pierre

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, heavenly, brilliant and subtle., September 17, 2006

By 

Steven Guy (Croydon, South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charpentier: Messe à quatre choeurs (Audio CD)

I sang in Adelaide performances of two Masses by Marc-Antoine Charpentier recently and it was a rare pleasure to sing such exquisite, refined, subtle, intelligent, expressive and well crafted music. When I saw this album on shop shelves recently, I was very excited and I bought it immediately. I wasn't disappointed.

This is a simply beautiful recording - everything is right here.

The voices and instruments of Ex Cathedra present Charpentier's music with great style and colour. The recording gives the impression of space, without being too distant or reverberant. The Messe à quatre chaeurs is, of course, a very richly scored work, but it never sounds too "crowded" or "overblown" here.

Charpentier used the Italian 17th century polychoral techniques to great effect on the music on this CD - Charpentier studied with Carissimi in Rome for a few years. I think Charpentier was one of the greatest composers of sacred music of the entire 17th century. His word painting, wit, harmonies, colour and sense of form are first rate. I wonder if Purcell was influenced by him?

I hope that many people give serious thought to purchasing this excellent recording of some great music. I also hope that Ex Cathedra returns to Charpentier some time in the future. Only a fraction of Charpentier's music has been recorded.