Search - Jan Dismas Zelenka, Frieder Bernius, Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra :: Zelenka - Missa Dei Patris / M. Bach, D. Taylor, Brutscher, G. Schwarz, Bernius

The genius of Zelenka

scott | Calgary, Canada | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late masses of Jan Dismas Zelenka are generally regarded as being the high water-mark of his ouvre, if not the high point of all baroque masses. His individual style is very apparent in all of them, and the Missa Dei Patris does not disappoint. (the other masses are Missa Dei Filii, Missa Sanctissime trinitatis, Missa Omnia Sanctorum, and Missa Votiva, all except the last available in good HIP versions)



The quality of the music goes without saying to anyone familiar with Zelenka, and for those who aren't, suffice it to say that if you like the choral music of Bach, Handel or Vivaldi, Zelenka will almost definitely appeal. The choral fugues are stunning, and there are numerous delightful arias, especially the Agnus Dei which is a devastatingly beautiful, extremely slow triple time aria that seems almost static in its lugubrious pace and has the same Affekt throughout it's 8 minute duration. Sometimes I listen to it repeatedly in succession and time seems to slow down, and I realize I have just spent half an hour immersed in it. Fantastic!!



The performance is excellent, as usual with Bernius directing the Stuttgart Chamber Choir, one of the best choirs around. The soloists also impress, with my favorite being Dan Taylor who besides having one of the best alto voices in the world, gets some of the best music in the world to sing. He's a lucky guy. Buy this disc, and also seek out the other recordings of Zelenka's late masses, you cannot be disappointed."