Customer Reviews

Ramirez: Misa Criolla; Navidad Nuestra

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

 

 

I'm so sorry that the reviewer in El Salvador feels that Ramirez' work has been "destroyed" in our effort, feeling its moods as dismal. In fact, the tempi and moods in this one and those in Ramirez' own recording made in Argentina when Misa Criolla was much younger, are not all that far apart! The biggest difference between ours and his is our adaptations of the instrumentation, legitimate in a still-evolving work like this one inspired by folk music, performed and recorded before with one tenor soloist. Ours has three, along with the extra excitement their ensemble singing provides, and the traditional and modern instruments are played in our recording, as in the composers, by specialists from Argentina.

I love this music, these performances of it and this recording, The more I still listen after having long completed the lengthy process of recording then preparing it for publication, I continue to hear in it new things to savour.

Curt Wittig, recordist & mastering engineer for this CD

I myself liked this recording so much that I have been prompted to write my first Amazon review, and would like to commend the Choral Society of Washington for its interpretation of the Criolla (haven't yet listened thoroughly to the Missa Luba portion of the recording, hence 4 rather than 5 stars). I'm not a professional musician, merely an avid choral singer, and the Carreras version which has been available for some time is widely disliked among my compatriots (a view which I share). Searching online for a newer recorded version I found this and just received it yesterday. An initial few listens reveal much to like and to fascinate. With the Carerras version one feels as if everyone is in a huge amphitheater and whatever the heck Jose is doing is miles away from the chorus... off synch and a quarter tone sharp, or maybe flat (it's been a while since I listened to it). This version can easily lead you to envision yourself in an intimate house of worship, with folk art hanging everywhere and a group of villagers gathered to celebrate in a spirit of empassioned reverence. It was impossible not to get up and dance around my Christmas tree while listening. The addition of harmonic singing to the solo parts with three tenors instead of one is incredibly invigorating and adds to the ensemble feel of the work; the instrumentation is bold and rhythmic; the feel of the whole thing is fresh and improvisatory. Personally, I adored it and will be recommending it to all my choir-geek friends still searching for a version of the Misa Criolla they can love! Looking forward to giving the interpretation of the Luba a good listen.

Here is an excellent example of how you can smash a beautiful music with a terribly bad performance!

Every thing in this CD is bad: the very uninspiring conducting, the pathetic and embarrassing soloists, the amateurish choir, the cheap recording, etc.

Most of all, i just don't find the connection between this arid performance and the red-headed passion and the exuberant happiness that are so integral to this fascinating music.

If you want THE performance for these lovely pieces of music, buy the original version recorded by Philips in the 60's.

The composer, Ariel Ramirez, have composed this religious music with great latino feeling.

The record have a sound like that you will hear in a latin catolic church.

The sound in this Naxos record was exelent.

En esta grabaci?n se ha destruido la obra de Ariel Ram?rez. No tiene la alegr?a de las misas y la m?sica latinoamericana, m?s bien tiene un estilo sepulcral y l?gubre.

De haber sabido no la hubiera comprado.

In this recording the work of Ariel Ram?rez has been destroyed. It does not have the joy of the masses and Latin American music, rather has a burial and dismal style. Of to have known it had not bought it.