Search - Mendelssohn, Bernius, Bamberger Symphoniker :: Church Music 3

Essential German Romantic Choral Music

09/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the fact that it is an unfinished work, the existing music is superb and well worth possessing. One thing that Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy did better than almost any other composer was choral music. His setting of text is exquisite, and the harmonies will give anyone with choral experience the chills. Kammerchor Stuttgart performs surprisingly well in this recording from 1987, and the soloists, Happel, Hauptmann, Rieger, and others display perfect comprehension of the text's meaning and the romanticism of the music without losing control or power. If you like German romantic choral music, there are few choices that supercede this one."

Mendelssohn's Christus well worth hearing

Kevin Lash | Princeton, NJ | 06/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Only a few movements exist from this unfinished oratorio, but they are every bit as lovely as the famous Elijah and St. Paul. "There Shall a Star", as one of the choruses is known in English, is very popular with choirs; professional recordings are scarce, though, and this German rendering is excellent. Bernius and his Kammerchor Stuttgart give us fine Brahms as well, on other Carus discs (and Bruckner on Sony)."