Music / kor

Glagolitic mass


Reviews (23)


Klassik heute

d. 25. Dec. 2018

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By

Christoph Schlüren

d. 25. Dec. 2018

"Klassik Heute Empfehlung: Wenn man diese Aufnahmen hört, kann man nur unendlich bedauern, dass Jiří Bělohlávek nicht mehr unter uns ist. Hier also liegt nun - mit 'seiner' Tschechischen Philharmonie und dem Prager Philharmonischen Chor - Bělohláveks Janáček-Vermächtnis vor, eine Zusammenstellung der bedeutendsten originalen Orchesterwerke - Sinfonietta, Taras Bulba und das Kind des Musikanten - mit der Glagolitischen Messe".


MusicWeb international

2018 October

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Leslie Wright

2018 October

"These performances of Janáček were some of the last recordings that Jiří Bělohlávek made before his untimely death in 2017 and can thus serve as a worthy memorial to a conductor whose specialty in the music of his homeland was second to none ... As a performance and recording, this new Sinfonietta by Bělohlávek is hard to fault. The playing of the Czech Philharmonic is downright glorious in all departments with vivid sound to match ... The same may be said for Taras Bulba ... I cannot imagine a better introduction to Janacek's music and a more fitting tribute to Jiří Bělohlávek than this new Decca production".


Presto classical

d. 31. Aug. 2018

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Katherine Cooper

d. 31. Aug. 2018

"Recording of the week: Bělohlávek gives [the Mass] plenty of space from the off (the opening is notably more expansive than that of Charles Mackerras on his landmark recording from the 1980s), and this coupled with the rustic, almost folksy edge of the oboes and brass throughout intensifies the impression that this is a piece that has one foot in the great outdoors and another in the cathedral".


The observer

d. 7. May 2022

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Fiona Maddocks

d. 7. May 2022

"In the case of Janáček's Glagolitic Mass, with origins dating back 20 years before the work appeared, the genesis is particularly complicated. The Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno, Orchestra philharmonique de Strasbourg, conductor Marko Letonja and soloists ... have recorded the "September 1927" version. The many detailed differences, especially relating to later cuts, and use of organ and timpani, are laid out in the liner notes ... The high-lying vocal parts - for soloists and chorus alike - excellently and urgently handled. Any Janáček fan will want to hear this version, together with the disc's other work, the ever-thrilling Sinfonietta".


BBC music magazine

2015 January

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Jan Smaczny

2015 January

"Tomás Netopil directs an excellent ensemble performance ... Soloists and organist are mostly superb and certainly deeply engaged ... If not entirely prefect, this reading, along with a fine performance of The eternal gospel is well worth investigating".


BBC music magazine

2016 May

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Jan Smaczny

2016 May

"Vurdering: BBC music choice - Vurdering: Recording of the month" - "Edward Gardner's interpretation succeeds superbly ... The chorus is rhythmically crisp and unfailingly responsive ... This recording is all the more welcome since it is based on an edition that includes changes made by Janáček after the standard version had been published. As with the chorus, the orchestral playing is superbly flexible in externalising the drama ... There is also superb solo singing ... This excellently recorded performance stands very high among recordings of the Mass".


Fono Forum

2018 Dezember

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Christoph Zimmermann

2018 Dezember

"CDs des Monats: Den theatralischen Impetus des Werkes könnte man durchaus mit dem von Verdis Requiem vergleichen ... Jirí Belohláveks Interpretation blendet Härten und Schärfen keineswegs aus. Grundton ist bei ihm jedoch eine tiefe Inbrunst, vom Orchester mit grosser emotionaler Emphase verwirklicht. Bei den Solisten glühen vor allem die Stimmen der Sopranistin Hibla Gerzmava und des Tenors Stuart Neill. Ausgezeichnet der Philharmonische Chor. Eine bewegende Einspielung".


BBC music magazine

2018 December

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By

Jan Smaczny

2018 December

"Alongside the strength of Belohlavek's interpretation is superb singing from the Prague Philharmonic Choir and the soprano Hibla Gerzmava who combines an unforced radiance at the start for Gloria with gripping drama later in the movement. With an absolutely intoxicating account of the final Intrada, overall this rendition must count as one of the most appealing performances of the Mass avaiable ... And the Czech Philharmonic playing magnificently ... As a whole, this excellently-recorded collection is powerful testament to Belohlavek's depth of understanding of repertoire close to his heart along with his characteristic integrity and barcing lack of sensationalism".


Diapason

2018 décembre

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By

Christophe Huss

2018 décembre


Klassisk

2012, nr. 24

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Per Rask Madsen

2012, nr. 24

"Glagolitisk messe er et levende og saftigt musikværk, der lægger al pietisme væk for at omfavne Gud. Opførelsen styrkes også af de udøvendes livsglade fortolkning, der giver musikken både kropslighed og ånd. De fire sangsolister ... synger på topniveau her. Der er mange højdepunkter undervejs fra både orkester og sangere".


Fono Forum

2012 Februar

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By

Marcus Stäbler

2012 Februar

"Den erdnahen Ton dieser Musik mit ihren prägnanten Motiven, rauen Farben udn schroffen Kontrasten treffen Antoni Wit und die Warschauer Philharmoniker genau - manchmal auch um den Preis einer nicht ganz so homogen gemischten Klangkultur, wie wir sie von europäischen Spitzenorchestern kennen ... Doch ansonsten eine gute, preisgünstige Alternative".


BBC music magazine

2013 April

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Terry Blain

2013 April

"A lean, cleanly contoured Glagolitic, lacking the elemental charge and raw abandon of some versions. Taras Bulba is generally well played, if again short on real cutting edge and excitement".


Diapason

2013 mars

By

By

Patrick Szersnovicz

2013 mars


Diapason

2022 juin

By

By

Benoît Fauchet

2022 juin


BBC music magazine

2022 July

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By

Jan Smaczny

2022 July

"Marko Letonja adopts a brist tempo for the opening [Sinfonietta], and the brass playing is supremely confident ... The subsequent movements, however, are well paced and more arresting dramatically ... This beautifully reading has much to commend it ... This performance of the first version of 1927 [Glagolitic Mass] is rather mixed. Soloists and chorus are superb, but the orchestral playing is often a touch tentative".


Fono Forum

2022 August

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Susanne Benda

2022 August

"Zu hören ist (endlich mal wieder!) die erste Fassung der Messe von 1927, kombiniert wie oft mit der im Tonfall verwandten späten "Sinfonietta". Unter den guten Solisten ragt die Sopranistin Malin Byström heraus: weil ihr der Einsatz im höchster Höhe beim "Sanctus" makellos gelingt und weil sie mit ihrer sehr farbreichen und dennoch klar artikulierenden Stimme den Janacek-Tonfall exakt trifft. Der Chor aus Brünn krönt seine Spitzenleistung mit einem körperreichen A-cappella-Pianissimo im "Agnus Dei" ... Die Orchesterstimmen sind gut gebündelt ... Dabei wirkt Letonjas Zugriff eher mild als wild: Man spricht hier mit Tönen. Überzeugend!".


The gramophone

2014 October

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Rob Cowan (f. 1948)

2014 October

"Tomás Netopil's performance seethes with nervous energy, his soloists are dedicated, and so are his chorus and orchestra".


The gramophone

2016 April

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Mark Pullinger

2016 April

"This is the third volume in Chandos's excellent series of Janácek's orchestral works (an odd description given that the main items here are choral) ... the Bergen Cathedral Choir singing with warmth and sensitivity".


The gramophone

2018 October

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Mark Pullinger

2018 October

"This Janáček collection from Decca is uplifting in its own way, forming a wonderful tribute to the artistry of the late Jiří Bělohlávek ... He could get under the skin of Janacek's music, drawing out its folk roots and speech rhythms, its soul-searching and truthfulness, its sheer humanity. The main work here is the Glagolitic Mass, given an expansive performance of great depth ... The Sinfonietta is a joy from first to last, an unbuttoned delight. The low brass is great, rasping and grunting and belching merrily at the garrulous woodwinds".


The gramophone

2012 January

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Malcolm Riley

2012 January

"The polished choral singing is a joy, with excellent pitching throughout, especially in the cruelly exposed unaccompanied entries ... The solo quartet also aquits itself favourably, especially Christiane Libor, who is on spectacular form".


BBC music magazine

2012 February

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Jan Smaczny

2012 February

"There are many attractive aspects t this performance, not least the heroic tenor of Timothy Bentch and the full-throated singing of the sopranos and altos. Too often, however the delivery of Janácek's motor rhythms seems mechanical and, overall, there is a lack of the exultant quality that makes for the memorable performances of this work".


The gramophone

2013 July

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John Warrack

2013 July

"Janowski takes an altogether gentler view of the work compared to the ebullient energy of Kubelik and in particular Mackerras ... Not suprisingly, Janowski is at his most effective in the 'Agnece Bozij' (Agnus Dei); this is gracefully done. The extraordinary organ solo is well played".


The gramophone

2022 August

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Ivan Moody (f. 1964)

2022 August

"You know immediately that this is going to be a memorable recording from the crisp clarity of the instrumental sound in the opening Intrada. Warner's sound engineers have managed to capture not only the glorious glossiness of Janáček's sound, but every line in superb detail. This extends too to the choirs and soloists - all four of whom are truly impressive, though for me the golden-voiced soprano Malin Byström and the epic tenor Ladislav Elgr steal the show".