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In 1967, while a student at RCM, Sir Adrian Boult conducted us in a performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. It was an unforgettable experience. Then tragedy entered my life and for personal reasons I could not listen to this piece again. Overcoming my grief and some 25 years later I attended a performance by a British conductor, who is currently the blue-eyed boy among conductors, and the performance was so typically eccentric of the conductor and so excruciatingly bad that I determined that my love for this piece was only due to its memories. But hearing Toscanini's account thrilled me. And it proves once again that a much-admired conductor is not necessarily a good conductor and how good a conductor Toscanini was. The performance on this disc is almost faultless. Nothing solemn, ponderous or dull here but life and vitality that, for example, is the antithesis of Klemperer's dreary performances of Beethoven. Here is captured a majesty and a power suggesting both the greatness of God and His power. Beethoven's greatness is captured too. My goodness how well he could write noble music without pomposity and grotesque allargandos. And how equally well Toscanini brings out all the power and the passion in both the choir and orchestra. He achieves this by tempi which never drags and by his legendary attention to detail. At times, the music is too exciting, too much for we mortals to take. The Gloria is simply superlative with its braying horns, clattering timpani and wonderful high spirits.

And yet in the final two movements the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei, both marked adagio we have performances of magical beauty ... deeply felt and very telling. The extended violin solo in the Sanctus is ravishing.

The version of the Choral Symphony is a good account. The tenor is disappointing and he is the soloist on the historical 1939 recording with Toscanini reviewed last month on Naxos (8.110824) which I prefer for its wonderful attack and ruggedness.

But this 2CD set is very welcome.

Reviewer

David Wright

 Performances

Recording

Reviewer

David Wright

 Performances

Recording

Reviews from previous months