A profound mystic experience
Antonio Mustaros | Naucalpan, Estado de México Mexico | 03/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best version available of Bach's B Minor Mass. There's no production that get close to it. Recordings like the ones made by Ton Koopman, Netherlands Bach Society, Cantus Cölln, Masaaki Suzuki and Marc Minkowski are very good but never reach the vocal and instrumental quality of Herreweghe's Collegium Vocale. A complete mystic experience. Forget all the old romantic versions with enormous choirs, opera singers and Symphonic Orchestras. Herreweghe once again demostrate the way that Bach's sacred music is meant to perform. Throw to fire all the wagnerian orchestras and conductors that still want to play Bach with full of vibrato strings, thonderous metals and high imposted voices. Awake and see the truth in the authentic baroque period performances."
Great listening experience
V Moritz | Chester County Pa USA | 03/10/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Top notch vocal soloists enhance the listening experience of this musical masterpiece. The director, who specializes in Bach, has produced a meaningful performance. The booklet that comes with the CDs, includes the English translation of the work and provides interest details of the composer's life. We will enjoy hearing this many times."
An outstanding performance
Shami Ghosh | 07/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Along with the two extant passions, the B minor mass is probably the most famous of Bach's big choral works, and this recording really provides an amazing way of getting to know it. It is extremely unlikely that the mass was ever performed complete in Bach's lifetime (or was intended for such a performance), and it's not necessarily a bad idea to listen to the different parts separately; they all have rather distinct moods. Herreweghe and his ensemble present a genuinely moving performance, extremely clear and crisply articulated. Andreas Scholl's 'Agnus Dei' has to be one of the greatest renditions of this famous piece (despite his sometimes disturbingly varying pronunciation of the Latin), far outranking the others I have heard, including those by such luminaries as Michael Chance."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1