Classical Music

MUSICA SACRA: MOZART'S REQUIEM

Classical Music

Classical Music

Musica ad Rhenum has earned a special place in the early music world, with critics describing the ensemble's performances as "cutting edge" and "exhilarating." the group are joined by a fantastic set of vocal soloists, with Johanette Zomer assuming the role of Aminta and Alexe Gregoriev playing Alexander the Great.

In the most complete edition possible, this recording features Mozart's horn concertos including the unfinished movements and the first movement of K412 in which Mozart wrote some scandalous text. Herman Jeurissen did all the research and is one of the top horn players in the world. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra is conducted by an inspired Roy Goodman.

Mozart: Gehn wir i'm Prater, Secular Canons, Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Artist Chamber Choir Of Europe, Nicol Matt conductor, Format 1 CD, Mozart considered canon-writing an essential compositional skill. Though canons are often small chamber works to be performed in company, Mozart's sketches of some of these works show that the composer carefully considered them before completion, giving them as much thought as his larger and more famous works. This collection includes Mozart's complete canons. The works vary in instrumentation and character; among the vocal ones are puzzle canons (which show one line of music and text, along with only the entry points of the other parts), the ambitious 12-part V'amo di core and the multi-lingual Bona nox! Bist a rechta Ox. Mozart's sense of humor is demonstrated in the two canons written to the daringly-named text of Leck mir den Arsch, as well as in the Difficile lectu mihi mars et jonicu difficile which, provided that the singer has the right accent, provides much hilarity. Aside from the vocal canons, there are several written for instruments, including the Adagio in F major, composed for two basset horns and bassoon. The vocal canons are performed here by the acclaimed Chamber Choir of Europe, directed by Nicol Matt. The collection also boasts performances by the Klarinetten-Trio der Musikschule Achern-Oberkirch and distinguished soloists of the W�rttembergischen Philharmonie Reutlingen. Recorded November 2002, Alte Kirche Fautenbach, Germany. That Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not the angelic Wunderkind living in his musical heaven of divine inspiration is proven by his secular canons, which he wrote as a personal pastime entertainment. This is the other side of the genius, essential in order to get the complete picture of Mozart the man and musician. Not all canons bear titles like "leck mir den Arsch", some others are extremely witty and inventive musical jokes. Expertly sung and performed by the Chamber Choir of Europe, conducted by Nicol Matt.

Classical Music

REVIEW:

[It's] charming: Sigiswald Kuijken’s touch, as one might guess, is light and airy, the period instruments are well and expressively played, the recording itself is vivid and bright...Kuijken’s fast tempos, even for both of Sarastro’s arias, take some of the mystery out of this character and place him in a more popular, fairy-tale realm.

Suzie LeBlanc’s Pamina is loveliness itself, rising to heights in “Ach, ich fühls”, though not erasing memories of say, Gundula Janowitz and several others. Stephan Ganz is an enchanting Papageno, quick on his vocal feet, joyous and cowardly by turns, and like the rest, always intimate. Isolde Siebert is a cautious but accurate Queen of the Night, singing with as much venom as her little voice will allow and animated in the recits.

As suggested, Kuijken’s leadership is fleet and comic, the Three Ladies are sprightly and musical, and the Three Boys are from the Tölzer Knabenchor and are superb.

-- ClassicsToday.com

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

While the music that Mozart is most known for was composed in his late period after his move to Vienna, the composer spent two thirds of his life in Salzburg and while living there wrote around 470 of the 626 compositions listed in the Kochel catalogue. 45 of Mozart’s symphonies were composed in Salzburg, a great deal of which were written for the Prince-Archbishop, who was Mozart’s employer. Three of these symphonies, Nos. 21, 27, and 34, are featured on this recording. The Haydn Sinfonietta Wien, conducted by Manfred Huss, performs on period instruments for this recording. Their previous recordings for BIS have garnered them critical acclaim: “never less than lustrous” (International Record Review) “idiomatic and alert” (Classica-Repertoire).

No serious opera collection is complete without Don Giovanni, one of the most popular and performed operas in history and to this day. This CD release marks the completion of conductor Kuijken's Mozart/Da Ponte trio of recordings - a cycle which develop his distinct style of loving attention to detail - all with a fresh, young, energetic cast of soloists.

Mozart: Serenades Nos. 11-12