Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Herbert von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic :: Mozart: Coronation Mass / Bruckner: Te Deum - Karajan

Exquisite Church Music

Peter P. Fuchs | Washington, DC | 11/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the church music that Mozart wrote for the ruler of Salzburg, Archbishop Colloredo, the so-called Coronation Mass easily reaches the height of his inspiration. What is quite little known, mentioned in extremely few sources on the composer is that Colloredo was in fact an example of Auferklarer, or enthusiast of the Enlightenment. He was known to favor busts of Voltaire in his private residence, rather than religious ones. This may partially explain why so many of Mozart's Salzburg Masses seem to be relatively brief as the Archbishop apparently did not wish to tarry in his liturgies. So by one of the curious combinations in history we have a maximally inspired liturgical work brought forth by a cleric who was, by all accounts, minimally interested in religious matters. This seems almost a poetic justice that this recording by Karajan should be one of the few that eschewed his later sub specie aeternitatis style with Mozart. Unlike his later Mozart symphonies, this recording has a vigor which reminds one especially of his great Cosi Fan Tutte

with Schwarzkopf. The churchy acoustics notwithstanding, this is an exceptionally clear reading for Karajan at this late date, and ceratinly a world-away from the vast, monotonous Bruckner Te Deum which was received incredibly better treatment by Jochum. Many saw in his later style a sort of cocoon-making in music for a much contradicted life which started with some rather unsavory political and ideological connections to say the least. The Coronation Mass brought out an inciseveness much missed. Because of Kathleen Battle, who is probably the best soloist in her part in any recording, this ranks high in comparison with other recordings. Otherwise, recordings by Harry Blech and the London Mozart Players and others give much better overall readings. But, still here is Karajan with a great orchestra in a very festive mood."