Beethoven: Mass In C - Missa Solemnis

Ludwig van Beethoven (Artist), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Riccardo Chailly (Artist), Georg Solti (Artist), Lucia Popp (Artist), Yvonne Minton (Artist), Margarita Zimmermann (Artist), Bruno Beccari (Artist), Chicago Symphony Chorus (Artist), Gwynne Howell (Artist), RIAS-Kammerchor (Artist), Tom Krause (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 1997)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041M8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,887 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Worst....Not the Best, January 15, 2002

By	Gregg M. Howell (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I originally purchased this recording two years ago for the Missa Solemnis; the C Major Mass was a nice coupling, but if you are buying for that piece, John Eliot Gardiner's recording is a more inspired reading. This Mass in C interpretation is completely uninspired with dirge like tempi and a most amatureish sounding choir. Susan Dunn is completely miscast as the soprano soloist (as are the remaining soloists). To the listener's detriment, Chailly opts for a more romantic interpretation versus a more classical, which ultimately ruins the piece.

I purchased this recording on the strength of Solti and Margaret Hillis' chorus. Unfortunately, the chorus for the Missa Solemnis does not live up to its usual brilliance. There are pitch problems as well as energy problems, and at times the chorus sounds so tired that they won't be able to make it through another phrase. The performance is not a total Lucia Popp makes a stunning Soprano soloist (though a bit operatic at times) rounded out by a respectable trio of soloist. The bass being the weakest--there are times where he is actually a beat off and stops singing all together!!

Your money would be better spent on John Eliot Gardnier's versions of either piece.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary Missa, September 14, 2002

By A Customer

Solti's legendary 1978 Grammy Award winning Missa Solemnis - at this incredible price makes this CD a MUST BUY!!! It is a MUST for every serious Missa fan. Even if you have one hundred other Missa Recordings, this is a MUST!!!!

Ths soloists are incredible and the Chicago Symphony Chorus is just that - the world's finest symphony chorus. Quite rightly so because the Chicago Symphony Chorus has earned more Grammys than any other SYmphony Chorus in the world.

Buy it. You will never regret it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! FANTASTIC!!! SUPERLATIVES!!!!!!, August 29, 2002

By	Daniel (NY, New York) - See all my reviews

The Missa Solemnis is in effect an awesome choral symphony of an unheard of scale - one that only Beethoven could have pulled off. The performance of the Missa Solemnis by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus led by Sir Georg Solti and Margaret Hills is absolutely FABULOUS!!! This performance is absolutely deserving of the Grammy it won in 1978 for Best Choral Performance. Note that the Missa was performed in 1978 but reissued in 1997. And it is still selling like hot cakes. Sir Georg Solti is indeed worthy of the honor of winning more Grammys than any other artist. Solti won 31 Grammys. His archrival Karajan only won 15 Grammys.

The cast of soloist is superb. Lucia Popp is absolutely fantastic. Listen to her at the opening Kyrie. Yvonne Minton is a superb contralto. Mallory Walker and Gwynne Howell are fabulous singers.The choral singing is First Class and UNSURPASSED. The Chicago Symphony Chorus is among the best choirs in the world. The audition their singers every two years - even those who are incumbent in the choir!!! This is one performance that I return to over and over again. The music is extremely soothing. Great listening for frayed nerves. Guaranteed to calm your nerves.

At mid price, this CD is VERY VERY STRONGLY recommended.

There is a bonus - Chailly's well liked Mass in C major thrown in. The performance is fine - great singing, great performance but not the best in the world. But who cares? The Missa Solemnis itself is worth the price and should be the real reason you are buying the CD. Nevertheless, the Mass in C is well performed and it is one performance you will go back to over and over again.