Stravinsky: Les Noces, Mass & Cantata

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Stravinsky loathed superimposed 'expressiveness', and always insisted his music should be executed rather than interpreted. On that basis, this latest release from the RIAS Chamber Choir of... — BBC Music Magazine, August 2006, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 5th Jun 2006
Catalogue No: HMC801913
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Length: 66 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

September 2006

Editor's Choice
Building a Library

November 2018

Recommendation - Choral & instrumental virtuosity

Stravinsky: Les Noces

Work length24:38

$4.40

$5.50

Premier tableau: Chez la mariée

Track length5:09

$1.00

$1.25

Deuxième tableau: Chez le marié

Track length5:45

$1.00

$1.25

Troisième tableau: Le départ de la mariée

Track length3:00

$1.00

$1.25

Quatrième tableau : Le repas de noces

Track length10:44

$1.40

$1.75

Stravinsky: Messe

Work length17:44

$5.00

$6.25

Kyrie

Track length2:29

$1.00

$1.25

Gloria

Track length3:43

$1.00

$1.25

Credo

Track length4:27

$1.00

$1.25

Sanctus

Track length3:39

$1.00

$1.25

Agnus Dei

Track length3:26

$1.00

$1.25

Stravinsky: Cantate

Work length23:57

$7.40

$9.25

I. A lyke-wake dirge. Versus 1. Prelude - This ae nighte

Track length1:43

$1.00

$1.25

II. Ricercar I. The maidens came

Track length3:50

$1.00

$1.25

III. A lyke-wake dirge. Versus 2. First interlude - If ever you gav'st hos'n and shoon

Track length1:42

$1.00

$1.25

IV. Ricercar II. Sacred History. To-morrow shall be my dancing day

Track length10:36

$1.40

$1.75

V. A lyke-wake dirge. Versus 3. Second interlude - From Whinnymuir when thou may'st pass

Track length1:40

$1.00

$1.25

VI. Westron Wind

Track length2:05

$1.00

$1.25

VII. A lyke-wake dirge. Versus 4. Postlude - If ever thou gav'st meat or drink

Track length2:21

$1.00

$1.25

Reviews
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Reviews

August 2006

Stravinsky loathed superimposed 'expressiveness', and always insisted his music should be executed rather than interpreted. On that basis, this latest release from the RIAS Chamber Choir of Berlin Radio comes up pretty well. The Chamber Choir's pitches are true and focused, rhythms crisp, textures clean, and in the jubilant wedding cantata-ballet Les noces that marked the culmination of Stravinsky's early Russian period there is a clear and spacious sound balance with its accompanying ensemble of four pianos and percussion.

2010

Stravinsky's recording of Les noces is famous for its ruthlessness, yet the piece is about a folk wedding, and one feature of most weddings is joy. That, a feeling of rhythmic joy, is what makes this new performance so exhilarating. The rhythms are unrelenting, spellbinding, only pausing for the blessing, the two mothers' lament, and the moment the mother lets her daughter go. The performance is terrific, directed with superb exuberance by Daniel Reuss.
Why is the Mass not better known? Stravinsky, an ardent believer, wrote it for himself and for liturgical use, but it is only really known from recordings. It too has an archaic feeling but it is wonderfully lyrical and inspired. The pungent harmonies give it bite, especially in the thrilling Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei is haunting in the same way that the 'alleluias' at the end of the Symphony of Psalms are unforgettable. The Cantata, too, opens gloriously and is lyrically inspired throughout, using four verses from the Lyke-Wake Dirge interspersed with polyphonic Ricercari allotted to solo voices accompanied by celestial flutes, oboe, cor anglais and cello. The music is extraordinarily beautiful – and here is another surprise: it is possible to write serial music worth listening to! The performances are all marvellous: who would have expected to hear Carolyn Sampson singing Stravinsky? This record is not to be missed.

September 2006

Stravinsky's recording of Les noces is famous for its ruthlessness, yet the piece is about a folk wedding, and one feature of most weddings is joy. That, a feeling of rhythmic joy, is what makes this new performance so exhilarating. The performance is terrific, directed with superb exuberance by Daniel Reuss... Why is the Mass not better known? It too has an archaic feeling but it is wonderfully lyrical and inspired. The performances are all marvellous: who would have expected to hear Carolyn Sampson singing Stravinsky? This record is not to be missed.

Stravinsky: Les Noces, Mass & Cantata

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