BaL 11.02.17 - Bach: Mass in B minor

[MickyD]

....and I think it has a very nice acoustic, too, Richard, which is vital for me. I could have wished that the trumpets had a bit more punch. I would love to have heard Edward Higginbottom do this work when he was at New College Oxford - his all-male voice St John Passion on Naxos is excellent to my ears.

[vinteuil]

I am currently listening to the Robert King version on Hyperion. It is interesting, not only because of it being an all-male version, but because of the use of the Tolz Boys Choir, who produce a much more chest-voiced style of delivery as opposed to their English counterparts - it puts me in mind of Harnoncourt's recordings. You also get Michael George and Anthony Rolfe Johnson. Nice speeds and playing...the recording is good and there are good notes. All for the price of 1 CD.

... thanks for the nudge, Micky : I'm ordering a copy

[Bryn]

... thanks for the nudge, Micky : I'm ordering a copy

I had not listened to it much since 'that trial', but RB's interpretive concerns notwithstanding, it deserves to be better known. I feel it has served its time on my shelves (well in one of the stacked bins of J S Bach CDs, actually).

[MickyD]

... thanks for the nudge, Micky : I'm ordering a copy

Good, I don't think it will disappoint. And I am of Bryn's opinion that it deserves to be heard, not just for its unique all-male voices, but for a very satisfying account overall.

[Richard Barrett]

Good, I don't think it will disappoint. And I am of Bryn's opinion that it deserves to be heard, not just for its unique all-male voices, but for a very satisfying account overall.

Agreed. Of course a lot of people will have been put off for obvious reasons, but I don't think one's knowledge of Robert King and his conduct really has any relevance when listening to his recordings.

[Bryn]

Agreed. Of course a lot of people will have been put off for obvious reasons, but I don't think one's knowledge of Robert King and his conduct really has any relevance when listening to his recordings.

Perhaps I should point out that the "stacked bins" of #183 are the standard mode of storage and access I use for CDs and DVDs since running out of shelf space. The sturdy plastic bins come from pound shops and hold around 40 CDs in their Jewel cases, plus 2 or 3 DVDs, each. The Giulini, Herreweghe, Parrott et al are all in the same bin as the King.

[MickyD]

Agreed. Of course a lot of people will have been put off for obvious reasons, but I don't think one's knowledge of Robert King and his conduct really has any relevance when listening to his recordings.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've finally bitten the bullet and ordered the Archiv JEG recording. The more I hear of his recent recording, the less I like it.

I'm still tempted to supplement JEG1 with Richter or Karajan.

[ardcarp]

Kathleen Ferrier made a brief appearance on University Challenge this week, singing a few bars of the Agnus Dei. So-o-o-o slow.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've finally bitten the bullet and ordered the Archiv JEG recording. The more I hear of his recent recording, the less I like it.

On returning home after a few says away, the Archiv JEG was on the doormat. So far, I've listened only to the opening Kyrie, having been interrupted by the arrival of visitors. But if it's all going to be as good as this, I shall be a very happy chappy. Is there any forumite who's done a side by side comparison of the two JEG versions. I could be that the samples I've heard of the new version may be the extreme bits, and not necessarily representative of the performance as a whole.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I am indeed very happy.