JS Bach: Lutheran Masses Volume I
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers
Awards:
-
Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
Christophers positions himself halfway between the Purcells and Amsterdamers, settling on a choir of eight voices with predictably transparent results...Christophers's customary precision and...
JS Bach: Lutheran Masses Volume I
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
Christophers positions himself halfway between the Purcells and Amsterdamers, settling on a choir of eight voices with predictably transparent results...Christophers's customary precision and...
About
Despite their exquisite beauty, featuring splendid choruses and deeply moving arias, there are relatively few recordings of Bach’s Lutheran Masses. On this new collection The Sixteen orchestra is joined by just eight singers to perform the Masses, allowing the beauty of the virtuosic vocal lines to be heard with absolute clarity. Sometimes called ‘Missa brevis’, the Lutheran Masses feature almost no Lutheran material at all. Musically, they are almost entirely made up of movements borrowed from Bach’s Cantatas and their beauty is in the fact that they represent the composer’s own choice of his finest Cantata movements. It is 20 years since The Sixteen last recorded such a wealth of Bach’s music, making this a uniquely exciting project. Volume II will be released in the spring of 2014.
Contents and tracklist
- Eamonn Dougan, Robin Blaze, Mark Dobell
- The Sixteen
- Harry Christophers
- Ben Davies, William Purefoy, Jeremy Budd
- The Sixteen
- Harry Christophers
- Ben Davies, Grace Davidson, Robin Blaze
- The Sixteen
- Harry Christophers
Spotlight on this release
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JS Bach Choral & Vocal Works
20th Feb 2015
This week it's David's turn to attempt the impossible - whittling down the huge and distinguished choral discography of JS Bach and picking out the very best.
Awards and reviews
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Presto FavouritesRecommended Recording
January 2014
Christophers positions himself halfway between the Purcells and Amsterdamers, settling on a choir of eight voices with predictably transparent results...Christophers's customary precision and gracefulness are evident throughout.
December 2013
the freshness, agility and precision of the performances, animated by Christophers's buoyant direction, are a constant pleasure.
May 2014
Collectively, the soloists form an agile and efficient choir, and this is essential in music that is often technically difficult...The performances are excellent and the sound quality pleasingly clear and natural.
The chief appeal of Bach's Lutheran Masses is in their role as 'highlights' from his cantata music; they are largely composed of material lifted wholesale from the cantatas, so it's a reasonable guess that these were Bach's own favourite movements from his works. Here Harry Christophers and a reduced Sixteen (down to just eight!) give a refreshing clarity to the vocal lines.
6th October 2013
The Sixteen and Christophers performed these works [at King's Place's Bach Unwrapped], with small forces – two voices to a part – and an expert instrumental ensemble who contribute precise, highly energised solo playing and continuo.
Early Music Today
The Sixteen is in fact an eight for this recording, and Harry Christophers’ decision to reduce his forces rewards the listener with lightness, precision and an essentially perfect blend. The orchestra are excellent, and...the calm of the coloratura is remarkable.
