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Post by julesd68 on Apr 9, 2017 23:56:31 GMT
Driving up the M1 tonight accompanied by Classic FM I heard Allegri's Miserere which I think is my favourite choral work of all time. This got me thinking what my other two would be and I decided Mozart's Requiem would be second with the Faure in third...
So c'mon what would your top three be?
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 10, 2017 5:58:59 GMT
Bach B minor mass has to be Numero Uno for me. - a huge multi-faceted work. Which is cheating rather.  But then the Mozart Req is similar. The rest will vary with the seasons. Mozart ... hmm, toss up between the Requiem and the Great C-minor Mass K,427. Just to be different I'll go for the latter. And then something on a HUMUNGOUS scale .... Verdi or Berlioz? OK - I'll go for the Berlioz Requiem. Runners up would include but not be limited to (in no particular order) - Handel Israel in Egypt (came very close to being in top 3) - Handel The Creation (rather drones on after a while, but fabulous opening third or so) - Handel Messiah (very much taken for granted imo - there is some fabulous music in there) - Haydn The Seasons - Rachmaninov Vespers - Schnittke choir concerto - Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony - Pergolesi Stabat Mater - Brahms Requiem - Dvorak Requiem and Stabat Mater - great 1st halves, rather fizzle out after a while. - Faure Requiem - Saint Saens Requiem - Bach St John Passion - Mahler 2nd symphony - Sibelius Kullervo symphony & Verdi and Mozart Requiems, of course Can I have a top 20?  |
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 10, 2017 22:33:42 GMT
Some great choices there Jerry! Very interested to see the Kullervo symphony in there - I absolutely love this work and was lucky enough to hear it at the Festival Hall a few years back with a huge choir. Sadly it doesn't often get a run out... I reckon MartinT should give it a go - it won't be what he might expect and maybe we can cure his Sibelius phobia! |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2017 0:29:24 GMT
1. Durufle Requiem
2. Mozart Requiem
3. Beethoven Symphony No.9
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Post by Slinger on Apr 11, 2017 14:39:12 GMT
8 th Symphony - Mahler Carmina Burana - Orff 2 nd Symphony Mahler There really are too many to choose from and I reserve the right to change the 2 nd and 3 rd place pieces on a daily basis. Having said that I'm much more likely to listen to something like The Berliner Messe or Creator Spiritus by Arvo Pärt, or the entire back catalogue of Harry Christophers' The Sixteen (not to mention The Hilliard Ensemble) or anything else that doesn't have all those messy instruments getting in the way of the singers. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2017 16:09:09 GMT
I could easily have swapped Mahler 2 for the Beethoven. Both wonderful symphonies.
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Post by Chris on Apr 11, 2017 19:51:15 GMT
I'm going to follow this with interest. I like choral music but have no idea about any of it.
Look forward to hearing some of these.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 12, 2017 17:33:02 GMT
Very close to my top 3 would be Thomas Tallis's Spem in Alium.
Written for 40 voices it is mind-bendingly crafted and hearing it performed live is just something else.
Please do give it a go if it's new to you - truly one of the jewels in the crown of the English choral tradition.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 13, 2017 10:30:35 GMT
Agreed, Jules.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 13, 2017 23:17:02 GMT
Jerry is also absolutely spot on with Dvorak - many people don't know or give his choral works a chance!
The Stabat Mater can be very affecting in parts and was rather a pleasant surprise to my ears ...
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Post by MartinT on Apr 14, 2017 0:41:49 GMT
The Poulenc is my favourite Stabat Mater. Oh, hang on, the Rossini is wonderful too!
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Post by Slinger on Apr 14, 2017 16:19:43 GMT
Martin (and anyone else of course) try listening to Arvo Pärt's Stabat Mater. I've bunged a YouTube link in the "What are you playing right now (classical)?" thread, because it's I am playing right now, and it's classical. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 14, 2017 16:38:16 GMT
Thanks Paul, will listen later when I get home.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 18, 2017 19:32:56 GMT
Bach B minor mass has to be Numero Uno for me. - a huge multi-faceted work. Which is cheating rather. But then the Mozart Req is similar. Jerry - I'm pretty sure you will have been through a few different versions of the B minor. Can I ask for your favourites? I'm looking for vinyl as ever and my Penguin Guide only has one special recommendation for this which is one I've never heard of - Johannes Somary with the English Chamber Orchestra ... |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 18, 2017 20:32:40 GMT
Bach B minor mass has to be Numero Uno for me. - a huge multi-faceted work. Which is cheating rather. But then the Mozart Req is similar. Jerry - I'm pretty sure you will have been through a few different versions of the B minor. Can I ask for your favourites? I'm looking for vinyl as ever and my Penguin Guide only has one special recommendation for this which is one I've never heard of - Johannes Somary with the English Chamber Orchestra ... Hi Jules On vinyl, sheesh. OK. Seek out this one, it's the recording that many decades ago put the work at the top of my choral list. Rilling on CBS.  Ah, here it is on fleaBay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CBS-79307-Bach-B-Minor-Mass-Helmuth-Rilling-3xLP-Box-Set-booklet-NM-VG-/252057162489?hash=item3aafc712f9:g:WT0AAOSw~gRVzh70 |
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 19, 2017 17:46:27 GMT
Thanks Jerry - whilst I was doing some digging I found this article on the b-minor which has some notes on numerous recordings ... www.classicalnotes.net/classics4/bachmass.htmlDo you know the Gardiner recording? The vinyl is quite pricey. His Mozart Requiem at Cadogan Hall was amazing ... |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 19, 2017 18:01:46 GMT
I think I may be alone on the planet for not liking JE Gardiner. I find his recordings technically impeccable but soulless. That applies in spades to his B-minor mass. I must have heard dozens of B minor masses. I still rate the Rilling very highly, although it is on the whole just a tad on the slow and old fashioned side it has soul in abundance. This is music that without soul is pointless. -- a pretty good one word summary of JEG's recording. And the end mvt of the 1st half, the Cum Sanctu Spiritu, is mind blowingly exciting in Rilling's recording - one of the greatest pieces of music ever in a pretty much perfect performance. Very fine sq overall, too. Of the more recent recordings, I don't favour many, but a Swedish Society recording with the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble and on the Disques VDE Gallo label conducted by Michel Jordan both get my vote. Best of luck finding them on vinyl, though! |
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 19, 2017 18:16:32 GMT
Interesting - don't know about the recording but the Gardiner Requiem I went to was anything but soulless ...
Drottningholm did that amazing recording of your favourite Jerry - The Four Seasons!
I will buy the Rilling.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 19, 2017 18:46:22 GMT
I recall we have similar views on this sort of subject regarding the merit of Sir Simon Rattler, so I certainly am graciously prepared to give JEG's live concerts the benefit of the doubt. I've not heard JEG live, but I get the impression that with his recordings he drills the performers mercilessly to achieve total technical perfection. And the music's purpose gets lost in the process. As I say, though, I may be alone on the planet in having this view. His recordings get relentlessly excellent reviews. ... a bit like the recordings themselves.  |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 19, 2017 18:50:48 GMT
I'd like to hear the Drottningholm Bach Mass.
As for JEG, I mostly like his recordings but a couple fall flat for me. I shall find the Rilling on Spotify and have a listen.
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