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Mendelssohn: Paulus / Hickox, Gritton, Rigby, Banks, Coleman-Wright, BBC NO Of Wales
Chandos

Mendelssohn: Paulus / Hickox, Gritton, Rigby, Banks, Coleman-Wright, BBC NO Of Wales

$27.99

Details

Composer
MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, FELIX
Artist
Gritton, Rigby, Banks, Coleman-Wright, Hickox
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Apr 28, 2009
Catalog #
CHAN 10516(2) X
UPC
095115151624

About



MENDELSSOHN Paulus • Richard Hickox, cond; Susan Gritton (sop); Jean Rigby (mez); Barry Banks (ten); Peter Coleman-Wright (bs); BBC Natl O & Ch, Wales • CHANDOS 10516 (2 CDs: 115:13 Text and Translation)


This is a rerun from 2001 on Chandos’ “Classics” series. James Miller reviewed it in Fanfare 25:1. I will refer readers to his review for more of the details of this production. Miller seems to prefer the Masur reading, not available then but reproduced now as an arkivmusic.com CD. Masur certainly deserves respect, and his cast is nothing to sneeze at, but I have come to prefer the Rilling recording on Hänssler to just about any other. His soloists, while less stellar than Masur’s, are every bit their equal, and Rilling gives us a highly charged, gorgeously sung performance of just about unequalled beauty.


Paulus only has about 10 readings currently available, and has been suffering from the equivalent of professional swine flu for many years—not many want to touch it. Soloists are certainly hard to come by, as the parts are just not that demanding. But—this oratorio is guaranteed a bright future as it remains, after Messiah , perhaps the most popular oratorio among American church goers and oratorio societies. The very lack of demanding solo parts makes it attractive to local ensembles, and the choral work is adventurous, yet attainable by lesser ensembles. Mendelssohn’s part-writing is easy to follow and logical to rehearse and teach, and he manages to get a consistently whopping sound out of his chorus while keeping well within the confines of the eminently doable.


Miller says about this Hickox rendition, “I can certainly commend it to your attention as a worthy performance, probably at least as good as the competition.” I think this sums up the recording very well. In a detailed comparison with the Rilling, Hickox is actually about nine minutes faster in each part, though Rilling sounds quicker because of a tighter control over the ensemble and a tauter rhythmic approach. He also is more devotional, perhaps too devotional in some instances, while the Chandos recording delights in the early-Wagnerian overtones found in some of the brassier moments. The more I hear the Chandos, the more I like it, and I am finding the differences between Rilling and Hickox interesting enough to appreciate both equally, and it is difficult to choose one above the other.


Okay—if forced—I would still go for Rilling, but every collection deserves two recordings of Paulus , so I can rest content. As for Masur, he is still worth hearing, and many will prefer him, but not by much. Though there are not many recordings of this early oratorio, these three alleviate any need for concern.


Incidentally, in James Miller’s review he states: “‘Wie lieblich sind die Boten die den Frieden verkündigen’ is usually translated as ‘How beautiful are the messengers that bring the gospel of peace.’ In the Masur (Philips) libretto (and some other places) it is rendered, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,’ which is, in fact, the way the verse goes in the King James version of the Bible (Romans X:15). But ‘Boten’ means ‘messengers’ in German. Did the King James translators get the original text wrong or did Martin Luther or other German translators get it wrong?” In the Chandos issue, “messengers” is given in the translation. After nine years, I think I can help—Luther got it wrong. The word pódeV (“feet”) appears not only in Romans 10, but also in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament in Isaiah and the book of Nahum, the books from which Paul took his quote. I can’t vouch for the Hebrew, but Paul would have taken his quote from a Septuagint source (the Greek translation of the Old Testament).


FANFARE: Steven E. Ritter

Tracklist 45 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Part I: Overture 06:15
    Track
    1
    Title
    Part I: Overture
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  3. 2 Part I: Herr! Der Du bist der Gott, der Himmel und (Chorus) 04:11
    Track
    2
    Title
    Part I: Herr! Der Du bist der Gott, der Himmel und (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:11
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  4. 3 Part I: Chorale: Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr (Chorus) 01:04
    Track
    3
    Title
    Part I: Chorale: Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  5. 4 Part I: Recitative: Die Menge der Glaubigen war ein Herz (Soprano, Bass 1, Bass 2) 01:56
    Track
    4
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Die Menge der Glaubigen war ein Herz (Soprano, Bass 1, Bass 2)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  6. 5 Part I: Dieser Mensch hort nicht auf zu reden (Chorus) 03:01
    Track
    5
    Title
    Part I: Dieser Mensch hort nicht auf zu reden (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  7. 6 Part I: Recitative: Und sie sahen auf ihn Alle (Soprano, Stephen, Chorus) 04:20
    Track
    6
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und sie sahen auf ihn Alle (Soprano, Stephen, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:20
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  8. 7 Part I: Aria: Jerusalem! Jerusalem, die du totest die Propheten (Soprano) 03:08
    Track
    7
    Title
    Part I: Aria: Jerusalem! Jerusalem, die du totest die Propheten (Soprano)
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  9. 8 Part I: Recitative: Sie aber sturmten auf ihn ein (Tenor, Chorus) 01:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Sie aber sturmten auf ihn ein (Tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  10. 9 Part I: Recitative: Und sie steinigten ihn (Tenor) - Chorale: Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben (Chorus) 02:04
    Track
    9
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und sie steinigten ihn (Tenor) - Chorale: Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  11. 10 Part I: Recitative: Und die Zeugen legten ab ihre Kleider zu den (Soprano) 00:49
    Track
    10
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und die Zeugen legten ab ihre Kleider zu den (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  12. 11 Part I: Siehe! Wir preisen selig die erdulet haben (Chorus) 03:40
    Track
    11
    Title
    Part I: Siehe! Wir preisen selig die erdulet haben (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  13. 12 Part I: Recitative: Saulus aber zerstorte die Gemeinde (Tenor) - Aria: Vertilge sie, Herr Zebaoth (Bass) 02:13
    Track
    12
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Saulus aber zerstorte die Gemeinde (Tenor) - Aria: Vertilge sie, Herr Zebaoth (Bass)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  14. 13 Part I: Recitative: Und zog mit einer Schaar gen Damaskus (Alto) - Arioso: Doch der Herr vergisst der Seinen nicht (Alto) 02:40
    Track
    13
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und zog mit einer Schaar gen Damaskus (Alto) - Arioso: Doch der Herr vergisst der Seinen nicht (Alto)
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Jean Rigby
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  15. 14 Part I: Recitative: Und als er auf dem Wege war und nahe zu (Tenor, Bass, Chorus) 02:07
    Track
    14
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und als er auf dem Wege war und nahe zu (Tenor, Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  16. 15 Part I: Mache dich auf! Werde Licht! (Chorus) 04:28
    Track
    15
    Title
    Part I: Mache dich auf! Werde Licht! (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  17. 16 Part I: Chorale: Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (Chorus) 01:59
    Track
    16
    Title
    Part I: Chorale: Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  18. 17 Part I: Recitative: Die Manner aber, die seine Gefahrten waren (Tenor) 01:08
    Track
    17
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Die Manner aber, die seine Gefahrten waren (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  19. 18 Part I: Aria: Gott sei mir gnadig nach Deiner Gute (Bass) 05:06
    Track
    18
    Title
    Part I: Aria: Gott sei mir gnadig nach Deiner Gute (Bass)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  20. 19 Part I: Recitative: Es war aber ein Junger zu Damaskus mit Namen (Tenor, Soprano) 01:36
    Track
    19
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Es war aber ein Junger zu Damaskus mit Namen (Tenor, Soprano)
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton, Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  21. 20 Part I: Aria: Ich danke Dir, Herr, mein Gott (Bass, Chorus) 04:29
    Track
    20
    Title
    Part I: Aria: Ich danke Dir, Herr, mein Gott (Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  22. 21 Part I: Recitative: Und Ananias ging hin das Haus (Soprano, Tenor) 01:44
    Track
    21
    Title
    Part I: Recitative: Und Ananias ging hin das Haus (Soprano, Tenor)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton, Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  23. 22 Part I: O welch' eine Tiefe des Reichtums (Chorus) 04:42
    Track
    22
    Title
    Part I: O welch' eine Tiefe des Reichtums (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  24. Disc 2
  25. 1 Part II: Der Erdkreis ist nun des Herrn und seines Christ (Chorus) 04:10
    Track
    1
    Title
    Part II: Der Erdkreis ist nun des Herrn und seines Christ (Chorus)
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  26. 2 Part II: Recitative: Und Paulus kam zu der Gemeinde (Soprano) 00:48
    Track
    2
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und Paulus kam zu der Gemeinde (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  27. 3 Part II: Duet: So sind wir nun Botschafter and Christi Start (Tenor, Bass) 01:37
    Track
    3
    Title
    Part II: Duet: So sind wir nun Botschafter and Christi Start (Tenor, Bass)
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  28. 4 Part II: Wie lieblich sind die Boten (Chorus) 03:00
    Track
    4
    Title
    Part II: Wie lieblich sind die Boten (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  29. 5 Part II: Recitative: Und wie sie ausgesandt von dem Heil'gen Geist (Soprano) - Arioso: Lasst uns singen von der Gnade der Herrn (Soprano) 02:13
    Track
    5
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und wie sie ausgesandt von dem Heil'gen Geist (Soprano) - Arioso: Lasst uns singen von der Gnade der Herrn (Soprano)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  30. 6 Part II: Recitative: Da aber die Juden das Volk sah'n (Tenor, Chorus) 01:29
    Track
    6
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Da aber die Juden das Volk sah'n (Tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  31. 7 Part II: Chorale: Ist das nicht, der zu Jerusalem verstorte Alle (Chorus) - Quartet: O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht (Chorus) 05:12
    Track
    7
    Title
    Part II: Chorale: Ist das nicht, der zu Jerusalem verstorte Alle (Chorus) - Quartet: O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht (Chorus)
    Duration
    05:12
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  32. 8 Part II: Recitative: Paulus aber und Barnabas sprachen (Tenor, Bass) 00:39
    Track
    8
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Paulus aber und Barnabas sprachen (Tenor, Bass)
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  33. 9 Part II: Duet: Denn also hat uns der Herr geboten (Bass, Tenor) 02:21
    Track
    9
    Title
    Part II: Duet: Denn also hat uns der Herr geboten (Bass, Tenor)
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  34. 10 Part II: Recitative: Und es war ein Mann zu Lystra (Soprano) 00:55
    Track
    10
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und es war ein Mann zu Lystra (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  35. 11 Part II: Die Gotter sind den Menschen gleich geworden (Chorus) 01:09
    Track
    11
    Title
    Part II: Die Gotter sind den Menschen gleich geworden (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  36. 12 Part II: Recitative: Und nannten Barnabas Jupiter, und Paulus (Soprano) 00:33
    Track
    12
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und nannten Barnabas Jupiter, und Paulus (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:33
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  37. 13 Part II: Seid uns gnadig Gotter! (Chorus) 02:27
    Track
    13
    Title
    Part II: Seid uns gnadig Gotter! (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  38. 14 Part II: Recitative: Da das die Apostel horten (Tenor) - Aria: Ihr Manner, was macht ihr da? (Bass) - Aber unser Gott ist im Himmel (Chorus) 06:40
    Track
    14
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Da das die Apostel horten (Tenor) - Aria: Ihr Manner, was macht ihr da? (Bass) - Aber unser Gott ist im Himmel (Chorus)
    Duration
    06:40
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  39. 15 Part II: Recitative: Da ward das Volk erreget (Soprano) 00:15
    Track
    15
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Da ward das Volk erreget (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:15
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  40. 16 Part II: Hier ist des Herren Tempel! (Chorus) 01:44
    Track
    16
    Title
    Part II: Hier ist des Herren Tempel! (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  41. 17 Part II: Recitative: Und sie alle verfolgten Paulus auf seinem (Soprano) 00:32
    Track
    17
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und sie alle verfolgten Paulus auf seinem (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  42. 18 Part II: Cavatina: Sei getreu bis in den Tod (Tenor) 03:15
    Track
    18
    Title
    Part II: Cavatina: Sei getreu bis in den Tod (Tenor)
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  43. 19 Part II: Recitative: Paulus sandte hin, und liess frodern die Altesten (Soprano, Bass) 01:27
    Track
    19
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Paulus sandte hin, und liess frodern die Altesten (Soprano, Bass)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton, Peter Coleman-Wright
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  44. 20 Part II: Quartet: Schöne doch deiner selbst! (Chorus) - Recitative: Was machet ihr (Bass, Tenor) 03:04
    Track
    20
    Title
    Part II: Quartet: Schöne doch deiner selbst! (Chorus) - Recitative: Was machet ihr (Bass, Tenor)
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Peter Coleman-Wright, Barry Banks
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  45. 21 Part II: Sehet, welch' eine Liebe hat uns der Vater (Chorus) 02:34
    Track
    21
    Title
    Part II: Sehet, welch' eine Liebe hat uns der Vater (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  46. 22 Part II: Recitative: Und wenn er gleich geopfert wird uber dem (Soprano) 00:58
    Track
    22
    Title
    Part II: Recitative: Und wenn er gleich geopfert wird uber dem (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Susan Gritton
    Ensemble
    BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox
  47. 23 Part II: Nicht aber ihm allein, sondern Allen (Chorus) 03:49
    Track
    23
    Title
    Part II: Nicht aber ihm allein, sondern Allen (Chorus)
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
    Conductor
    Richard Hickox