Beethoven Missa Solemnis

[zamyrabyrd]

Beethoven Missa Solemnis: Donath, Soffell, Jerusalem, Sotin, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Solti LPO live London Prom 1982 LPO/BBC issue

When this performance was notified for issue recently, I put a post onto the New Releases thread advertising it. I then sat back and eagerly awaited its arrival. i was in the performance and below I have copied from an ancient thread on conductors where I wrote the following.

What might have been....

Mike

How exciting to have been in the performance and how nice to hear about it!
Maybe a better copy will turn up somewhere...

[Rod Corkin]

Goodness gracious me, Rod ?? 

I'm happy to hear you heard it - good job! 

Q

https://open.spotify.com/album/5q7zGboJwO3QwWIMTp9PyE?si=RocmrCY0RX6EvPEQLRuN-w

Better than Suzuki's.

[amw]

Great review, Mike!  Thanks

I'm still looking for that Holy Grail, on period instruments.

This recent issue by Brüggen's old orchestra has also gathered some positive reviews - anyone here heard it? 

I like it, although not as much as the second Gardiner one. I have not heard Suzuki for comparison.

[Rod Corkin]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here but I like the Hanover Band's (period instrument) recording a lot and it has remained on my playlist since I bought it many years ago. Not perfect but the sound is beautiful and the vocals excellent throughout...

[aligreto]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here but I like the Hanover Band's (period instrument) recording a lot and it has remained on my playlist since I bought it many years ago. Not perfect but the sound is beautiful and the vocals excellent throughout...

I also think that it is a fine version.  It is filled with drama and energy and the choral singing in particular is wonderful. It is definitely worth investigating for those who may not be familiar with it.

[VonStupp]

Based on a Hurwitzer recommendation:

https://www.youtube.com/v/1EeJ3OI7rhs

I tend to be in the traditional camp when it comes to these big symphonic choral works from older masters, so I will be curious to hear how Herbert Blomstedt's Missa Solemnis is. By the looks of the performing forces, it should be a quality product. In a work where the soloists are integral, I am not familiar with any of them, however.

VS

[Daverz]

I tend to be in the traditional camp when it comes to these big symphonic choral works from older masters, so I will be curious to hear how Herbert Blomstedt's Missa Solemnis is. By the looks of the performing forces, it should be a quality product. In a work where the soloists are integral, I am not familiar with any of them, however.

Listening to the Klemperer studio recording now.  What a monsterpiece!

[VonStupp]

Listening to the Klemperer studio recording now.  What a monsterpiece!

Nice!

Last year I upgraded to the audio-only Blu-ray of Karajan ('66). With Janowitz/Ludwig/Wunderlich/Berry, it is my go-to for my ideal solo quartet in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

VS

[SonicMan46]

TTT after nearly 3 Years!     Starting to go through my Beethoven collection and decided to listen to my two versions of the Missa Solemnis shown below - the older Klemperer classic from 1965 and the Herreweghe re-do from 2012 or so - the latter mentioned in this thread but not reviewed - I enjoy the newer period performance for the excellent blend of voices and instruments; has great dynamics (listened on headphones) but not BOMBASTIC like several that I've heard - reviews attached, if interested and also a Hurwitz YouTube discussion of many historic and newer recordings - Klemperer is one of his top picks but Herreweghe is not included, as are many others left out.  Dave

 

[DavidW]

If you haven't listened to Jacobs... I love it!

[(poco) Sforzando]

If you haven't listened to Jacobs... I love it!

Hurwitz hates it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu-yara42rc

But then, there are some who hate Hurwitz!

[(poco) Sforzando]

Hurwitz in his video claims the "reference recording" is Bernstein/Concertgebouw. Then he says, "this is a toughie, and the choice may be somewhat controversial." But supposedly the "reference recording" is one around which a consensus has emerged, so by definition the "reference" should not be controversial. And then if you go to ClassicsToday, you'll see a whole slew of versions listed as the reference, including Klemperer (EMI); Bernstein (Sony or DG); Jochum (Decca); Harnoncourt; Shaw (Teldec), Karajan (DG), and Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi). Such fun.

[Jo498]

I have never seen the live Bernstein/Concertgebouw as "reference" (which was accidentally the first I owned).
The most recommended in my impression were probably Klemperer, one of Karajan's and one of Toscanini's for historical. If Bernstein at all, than the older CBS/Sony rather than DG.
Not sure which from the last 40 years would be added, probably Gardiner as one of the first historical informed ones with his virtuoso choir.
I haven't kept up anyway, the most recent ones I own are Harnoncourt's and Herreweghe's first recordings, from the 1990s, already around 30 years old.

[San Antone]

These are the ones I currently have in my library, with my favorite (as of today) in bold:

Gardiner
Harnoncourt
Jacobs
Savall
Suzuki

[DavidW]

@SonicMan46 btw I have not heard the newer Herreweghe you have.  I've heard and own the older one which is SO VERY GOOD.



Perhaps sometime I should stream the one you have?

[SonicMan46]

@SonicMan46 btw I have not heard the newer Herreweghe you have.  I've heard and own the older one which is SO VERY GOOD.



Perhaps sometime I should stream the one you have?

Hi David - well, I've not heard the first one above, but the reviews I perused favored his re-do, so if you do a comparison let us know - Dave

[San Antone]

@SonicMan46 btw I have not heard the newer Herreweghe you have.  I've heard and own the older one which is SO VERY GOOD.



Perhaps sometime I should stream the one you have?

Herreweghe is among my favorite conductors, so I will certainly find this on Spotify and listen. 

[knight66]

I have quite a few versions of the Missa Solemnis and I think both the Suzuki and the live Kubelik with Donath, Fassbaender etc each have it all. I assumed the Suzuki might be looking backwards to Bach and have slimmer textures, but I found plenty of muscularity and fire in it, as well as the contemplative. A lot of the live Kubelik performances that have appeared since he died have been proved to be top recommendations, and this terrific performance can be come with a really excellent Beethoven 9th.

Knight

[Atriod]

The two I could listen to forever - Klemperer and Blomstedt.