Customer Reviews

Christmas Present From Polyphony

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an essential Christmas choral CD. The program itself is fabulous and unique, lacking the tacky "favorites" found on most recordings of this type. Entirely a cappella except for two Rutter arrangements with orchestra. Not a single track is lacking in depth and sincerity.

Polyphony is one phenomenal choir. For its small size, it has truly unmatched sustaining power and control (demonstrated most astonishingly in Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium and the end of Howells' A Spotless Rose). The only disappointment on the entire disc is Grieg's gorgeous "Ave Maris Stella" in which, for whatever reason, the men sing with a rather unblended and even wobbly sound while the women are almost entirely straight-tone. "Sing Lullaby" by Howells is a priceless gem worth several times the cost of this CD....a powerfully haunting piece performed here to utter perfection and taste. You will also find what is most assuredly the most perfect and definitive recording of "O Magnum Mysterium" to be found anywhere. The balance and length of line this incredibly gifted ensemble achieves in this too-often-performed piece will leave you breathless.

Heavenly music, beautifully captured in a location with fantastic acoustics. This is music that needs to be heard on headphones or outstanding surround sound to be really appreciated. Here I am in February still listening to this CD of Xmas music... it's very calming to the soul. I can't recommend this highly enough.

If the Yuletide season seems to be a combination of tidal wave (shopping and rush) and excruciating boredom from musical tracks that should have, long-ago, worn out and died, this CD is probably the best candidate there is for relaxing from the rush and enlivening the season with renewed listening pleasure.

Perhaps I'm just feeling curmudgeonly, but I suspect my lack of enthusiasm comes of too-high expectations. One of my favorite Christmas CDs is Polyphony's "O Magnum Misterium," originally recorded in 1996 and reissued in 2005. I listen to it regardless of the season because of its beauty. Several of the tracks on "A Christmas Present" are lifted from that recording, which to my ears is superior in every way to the one under review. The choir is crystalline and soaring and impeccable on both, but the track sequencing on the earlier CD is infinitely more sensitive, chosen with an ear to sustaining the mood and the spiritual atmosphere. It's also better at showcasing soloists (oh the sublime Libby Crabtree!) and favors more piercingly melodic compositions. Yes, I'm showing my bias here. "A Christmas Present" is more of a hodgepodge and less emotionally engaging; also, frankly, in some instances downright boring. "Misterium" has a moment or two of blandness - always a risk with the Anglican canon - but overall it casts a spell of aching gladness. Some passages still move and mesmerise me hundreds of listenings later, with that shiver of goosepimply transcendence that leaves a bittersweet pang. I was hoping ACP would provide more of that controlled, sunlit rapture, but alas, it kept me at arm's length. The vocal perfection is admirable, the spirit lackluster.

To further argue my case, "Misterium" has three more songs than "A Christmas Present," as well as seven instances of plainchant. To illustrate: "Misterium" gives us an exquisite rendition of Leighton's "Of a rose is all my song," a ravishing piece that finishes on the soprano's low-pitched, echoing note and a moment's stillness. This leads (perfectly, in my opinion) into the hushed opening of Howells' "A Spotless Rose," one of the carols included on both CDs. Similarly, another shared piece, Warlock's "Lullaby my Jesus," is preceded on "Misterium" by Leighton's "A Hymn of the Nativity," a work of elegant exaltation containing one glorious moment of cascading soprano lines that always wrings my heart. They fit together with great delicacy. And so on.

Some final nitpicking and one major objection: the ensemble sounds much too tentative on Pärt's "O Morgenstern" and too well-mannered and self-effacing on his "Magnificat." Lastly, I'm sorry but I'm allergic to John Rutter. Yes, there are exceptions, but his arrangements are downright smarmy sometimes, and when I reached the last carol the calculated faux-innocent chirpiness of the flute intro made me lunge for the eject button.

In short, if you like this CD I'd recommend getting your hands on O magnum misterium as well. If you're hesitating between, skip this one and head straight for the other. It's worth it for Kenneth Leighton carols alone.