Customer Reviews

Copland: Motets; Duruflé: Gregorian Motets; Tavener: Song for Athene; Etc. [Hybrid SACD]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This stunning program led by Atlanta Symphony Chorus' new director, Norman Mackenzie verifies that the chorus remains in excellent hands with Robert Shaw's successor. The chamber chorus comprised of approximately 40 voices sings with the trademark diction, blend, accuracy and warm tone that were the hallmark of Shaw's choruses. This program of twentieth century works is quite moving and serious in tone; highly listenable in that they are all quite tonal, reflecting the unique styles of their various composers. The Copland Motets are perhaps the only works on the disc that suffer by comparison with the remainder of the program.

I have the SACD version of this disc which is warm, stunningly clear, reverberant but quite transparent. Having sung with a chamber chorus that recently performed the Durufle and Messiaen motets included on this compilation, it was delightful to hear them so beautifully recorded by this outstanding ensemble. I highly recommend it.

This is a very interesting cd recorded by the Telarc team. It was a suggested review piece in a review for a famous European Electrostatic speaker manufacturer.

I would listen to his on a system that is able to present a very large soundstage/field. Horn based (Avantgarde Duo) The vocal detail of the individual voices peeks from among the choral mass. I would say this is "mood music". It is not for everyday listening...I would also aver the guess that this would be suitable and more enjoyable over a system that has excellent pinpoint definition and excellent detailing abilities, front to back depth definition.
Otherwise, it will sound like a mass of mush, warm mush, if you will.
I would recommend it only, if it is musically your cup of tea.

All of the music on this beautifully performed and recorded release is religious music, but music lovers and audiophiles should find this an enjoyable and rewarding release even if they are not devout believers. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus ranges in size from about 40 to 60 voices, depending on repertoire, and can sound big or small depending on the demands of the music.

I have long been a fan of Vaughan Williams's Mass in G Minor. Although Vaughan Williams professed agnosticism, much of his music expresses emotion and longing that sound as though they must have religious underpinnings. His Mass often gets paired with other English religious pieces, such as the Howells Requiem; it is interesting to have it included on a disc with several other pieces, and I particularly enjoy the way the producers framed to program by beginning and ending with a modern and historical setting of the same text, O sacrum convivium. All in all, this is a wonderful recording that I recommend quite highly.

Printing the disc contents with pale gray lettering on a black background makes it almost impossible to read without an extremely bright light. If you buy this recording, I suggest that you copy the contents from Amazon.

It is an excellent disc, but if you really want to hear a truly marvelous performance of Vaughan Williams' exquisite Mass In G Minor, get the old EMI recording - a stunning and gorgeous performance.