Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Herbert von Karajan, Wien Orchester der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde :: Bach: Mass in B minor

Von Karajan Dissapoints

Dinergrl | NY | 12/31/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I love this piece. Unfortunately, this recording suffers in many areas. The sound is muddled. The soloists are just OK. But the primary sin is the choral singing - the heart and soul of the piece. The chorus is unprepared, or just incompetant. The choir is so muddled that one can barely make out the musical lines. Not a chance on discerning the words.



What a shame for Bach and Von Karajan lovers. Go with the old, but beuatiful Eugene Jochum recording."

One of the true great recordings of the early Walter Legge e

Felipe Izcaray | Salta, Argentina | 08/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording show Herbert von Karajan at his best, that is, his early recordings forh Walter Legge, the legendary English record producer who founded the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, a superb ensemble that was put together just for recordings. For this version of the Bach B Minor Mass, the choruses were recorded in Vienna with the Friends of Music Society Orchestra and Chorus. and the solos were recorded in London with the Philharmonia orchestra. In spite of the us of the technology available in those years (1950), the interpretation is excellent. One has to forget about comparing this CD to today's technologically accented issues. The sound is mono but the interpretation is one of the best of that era. Together with the early recording by Robert Shaw for RCA, this is one of the best historic recordings of Bach's monumental work. It is a sheer joy to listen to the solos and duets by such accomplished soloists."