Customer Reviews

Roberto Sierra: Missa Latina 'Pro Pace'

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

 

 

Missa Latina 'Pro Pace' composed by Roberto Sierra has stunning performances by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the MSO Chorus, with soloists soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and baritone Nathaniel Webster under the direction of Andreas Delfs. All performers are up to the challenges of Mr. Sierra's composition. Vital orchestral direction and playing throughout drives the piece to its affecting finish. Tonal beauty in the complex choral writing is present to the last note and Ms. Murphy and Mr. Webster give dramatic interpretations of the solo writing throughout. With its exciting rhythmic and tonal textures, Mr. Sierra's composition is sure to enter the orchestral/choral repertoire in short order. Highly recommended listening (and programming)!

This is an exciting new addition to the classical music scene. The recording was made from the national premiere of the work, in consultation with the composer. The chorus is outstanding. The Latin rhythms and wonderful harmonies make it great listening even if you are not into the classical literature. You've never heard a mass like this one.

This is a masterpiece. Not as "Latin" as I expected, but contains interesting cross-rhythms. Well-performed, luscious music that would satisfy the yearnings of a classical music aficionado, spiritual listener, or one with more modern tastes.

The Roberto Sierra Missa Latina is being performed by the Victoria (Texas) Bach Festival in June. I am a member of the Festival chorus. We were told they were taking orders for CDs of the music for $16.95. I decided to search on line for the CD, and went to Amazon. I needed to learn the alto part, and could get help from a professional performance of the work. I got my CD from Amazon for less than half their price! I am singing along with it, following my score, with great success! Later, after the concerts, I will have the CD as a momento of the piece, along with a CD of our chorus and orchestra performing it, for comparison. Interesting, isn't it? The CD has 2 or 3 tiny skips, but they don't bother me.

Seems to be a rehash of Bernstein's Mass, only not so compelling. The Credo, especially, is unrelievedly dull and the composer never seems to connect with the text. It all seems to be individual words being set with no real context. There are interesting sonorities and rhythms, to be sure, but over all, the sound is congested, the chorus sounds amateurish (it probably is an amateur chorus) in that the sopranos can never seem to agree on the pitch. If it weren't for the low price, I'd pass on this, but if you're curious, go ahead and give it a try. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you won't.