St Albans Cathedral Choir, Andrew Lucas
Release Date: 30 June 2023
Label: First Hand Records
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060216343143
Description
Although he remains best known for his symphonies, Anton Bruckner's output of sacred choral works is sizable and represents the essence of a composer whose Catholicism was both profound and almost entirely unwavering. These works include various motets and anthems of which some of the most popular are featured on this recording including Ave Maria, Locus iste and Os Justi .
Thanks to the excellent acoustics of the 11th century St Albans Cathedral, this recording sounds wonderful, particularly in the immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos version (which is available to stream via Apple Music). The recording features boy choristers rather than the more commonly heard women's voices, fitting closer to Bruckner's intentions. St Albans Cathedral Choir is regarded as one of the finest cathedral choirs in the country and this is the first time they have recorded these works. This recording is released ready for Bruckner's 200th birth anniversary in 2024.
Gramophone Editor's Choice July 2023
"Lucas's three dozen singers are on impressive form, combining tonal beauty with sheer stamina...This splendid new release will take some supplanting." - Gramophone
"Competition in this repertoire is stiff but St Albans more than hold their own against the best of them, with Lucas drawing a full, rich sound from his choir." 5 STARS, Choir & Organ Magazine
"a stirring performance of the resplendent motet Ecce Sacerdos magnus, the eight-part vocal writing spaciously shaped by conductor Andrew Lucas, with sonorous underpinning from three trombones and the organ." – BBC Music Magazine; Recording (5 STARS), Performance (4 STARS)
"Bruckner's Motets require a choir on top form – combining tonal beauty and sheer stamina, as reviewer Malcolm Riley puts it – and a conductor of impeccable insight, both of which they receive here." – Gramophone Recordings of the Year / Editor's Choice July 2023
Tracklisting
Noxwode, Conor Gricmanis
Tessa Lark, Jon Batiste, Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Edgar Meyer
David de Winter and The Brook Street Band
Alexander Baillie & Nigel Yandell
Orquestra Sinfonica Portuguesa; Alvaro Cassuto
The Flautadors Recorder Quartet
The Telling
Sarah Cahill
