Customer Reviews

Sacred Music: Gloria

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This is a spirited performance of beautiful music. It is typically
an "English" choral sound -- lots of head tones, crystal-clear diction,
performance clarity.
BUT if you want the "definitive" Poulenc Gloria, this is not it. Actually,
I have the first recording made of the Gloria -- an Angel mono LP "made
with supervision of the composer" (whatever that means) in 1961.
It's a grand, operatic performance, but it's a little soggy in places,
and the soprano tended to drag. Maybe this is the definitive Poulenc
Gloria, I don't know.
I certainly like the Rutter performance for its clarity.

The Cambridge Singers, under the masterful direction of John Rutter, again demonstrate on this recording why are they such a renowned choral group. This choir uses their quintessential English sound and texture to great use in music of Francis Poulenc. The mystical nature of these compositions is enhanced by the clarity and balance of this group. The recording starts in a great way with the Gloria but the real wonder of this recital are the a capella pieces. These pieces of apparent simplicity are extremely difficult to perform, due to the use of intervals by Poulenc and the jumps in the vocal lines. When these pieces are performed with the mastery of the present recording, these unaccompanied motets become a luminous showing of the otherworldly nature of the sacred texts, from the solemnity of Salve Regina and Ave Verum Corpus to the intensity of Quatre motets pour un temps de penitence to the joyful innocence of Quatre motets pour le temps de Noel. A truly enjoyable recording.