Soloists; Hans-Christoph Rademann; Dresden Chamber Choir; Stuttgart Philharmonic
Description
The early musical experiences of Puccini and Verdi, those two giants of Italian opera, were in fact gained in the field of sacred music. In 1880, at the age of 22, Puccini composed his Messa a 4 voci as a graduation exercise. When still a schoolboy, the 45-year older Verdi stood in for the organist in his home village; at the end of this life, he returned to church music, writing his Quattro pezzi sacri in the 1890s at the age of over 80. The Messa of the younger composer - which was believed lost until 1952 - is a joyful and scintillating work. Artistically, Verdi's powerful and intense Pezzi sacri can be placed on an equal standing with his beloved operas.
This new recording provides a great opportunity to hear all four pieces, which, because of their diverse instrumentation (a cappella choir, quartet and double choir with large orchestra), are rarely performed together. The CD features the Gaechinger Cantorey, the Dresdner Kammerchor, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Sung Min Song and Kresimir Strazanac, all performing under the baton of Hans-Christoph Rademann.
"From the very start it 's clear that we're in for an exceptionally dramatic performance, as Hans-Christoph Rademann and his musicians bring out all the intensity and eeriness of the 'Representation of Chaos'...Rademann's attention to detail is meticulous throughout, and it 's never carried out at the expense of the musical line" BBC Music Magazine on Haydn: Die Schopfung (ACC30564)
"The Dresden Chamber Choir sings with stunning clarity and perfect blend, alert to small details in the counterpoint, while Hans-Christoph Rademann ensures that the broad sweep of the whole adds up to more than its attractive parts. These ingredients make this one of the best Baroque choral performances on disc so far this year." Gramophone Magazine on Hasse Requiem (CAR83175)
'An intimate continuo aria inviting Jesus into a sinner's heart has endearing integrity thanks to Freuersinger's symbiotic partnership with the cellist and organist; a blissful duet for Wey and tenor Florian Sievers features euphonious playing by concertante violin and viola.' – Gramophone
Tracklisting
Winter/Potter/Mammel/Flaig/Voskuilen/L´arpa Festante
Various Artists
Neumann/Kölner Kammerchor/+
Kermes/Neumann/Kölner Kammerchor/Collegium Cartusianum/+
Soloists; Dresden Chamber Choir; Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra
Soloists; Frieder Bernius; Kammerchor Stuttgart
Kammerchor Stuttgart; Barockorchester Stuttgart; Frieder Bernius; Hannah Morrison; Franziska Bobe;
Vocalensemble Rastatt; Les Favorites; Holger Speck; Miriam Feuersinger; Terry Wey; Florian Sievers;
La Petite Band & Sigiswald Kuijken
Cappella Pratensis & Stratton Bull
\uFEFFThe Choir of Christ's College, Cambridge/ David Rowland
Tuscae Voces; La Pifharesca; Elia Orlando
The Sixteen; Harry Christophers
The Choir of Westminster Cathedral; Peter Stevens; Simon Johnson
The Choir of Newcastle Cathedral/Ian Roberts
The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford; Mark Williams
