What can they be thinking at Brilliant Classics? Releasing a 25-CD set of sacred music, including some of the greatest works ever written, at such a low price! At first glance, you might be hesitant to buy such a set - such a mixture of periods, composers and performers, and, at that price, the first reaction is that it is probably not worth it.

Well, it is worth it, and how! While this set might not appeal to those who already have a good collection of sacred music, it is perfect for listeners who want to discover some of the many gems in this genre. Beginning with the oldest known form - Gregorian chant - and ending with works by 20th century composers, such as Arvo Pärt, this set has a great deal of appeal.

It would take too much time to examine every disc in this set, but here are some of those that stand out.

Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater is a very moving work from the 28th century. This sacred work, which incorporates many aspects of operatic music, was commissioned by a group of Neapolitan noblemen. It is thought that it was meant to replace Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, a similar work, composed in an older style. Pergolesi, in this work, combined the strict Neapolitan church style with the more melodic aspects of then modern opera, resulting in a work of unique emotional effect.

Soprano Angharad Gruffydd Jones has an intriguing voice. With an airy sound, almost like a boy soprano, it seems lightweight at first, but grows on this listener. It becomes a tantalizing voice, one that almost defies description, and carries this entire work. Counter-tenor Lawrence Zazzo is also very good, and their two voices marry perfectly during the duos.

The recording of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is not one of the best, but is certainly an acceptable recording. Evangelist Rogers Covey-Crump is not totally convincing - it is difficult to measure up to the benchmark of the magnificent Peter Schreier, who is undoubtedly the perfect voice for the part (or, at least, whose voice has become more or less identified with it). His diction sounds a bit unsteady, and his voice seems just a bit too laid back for this central part.

Alto Michael Chance has a fine voice, but uses a bit too much vibrato at times, which tends to distract from the melody calling attention to itself. Yet his vibrato is unequal - at times, it is intrusive, and other times (even within the same aria) it is subtle.

Curiously, Emma Kirkby, who does not often overuse vibrato, does so here. Her voice is wonderful, as usual, but one may question this vibrato which tends to stand out. However, in the heart-rending aria Erbame dich for soprano and violin obbligato, she is more restrained, and is truly magnificent. Yet, it is hard to compare her version to the near-perfect performance by René Jacobs on the Gustav Leonhardt recording of 1989, or Robin Blaze's crystalline performance on the Maasaki Suzuki recording. (Or even alto Michael Chance, present on this recording, who was acclaimed for his performance of this aria in the recent recording by John Eliot Gardiner.)

The Bach B Minor Mass features alto James Bowman, and is another worthy recording. The Mozart requiem is a good performance, which Brilliant Classics has included in its complete Mozart set. The Fauré requiem is quite good, with the Holland Boys Choir giving a fine performance, and soloists Maja Roodveldt and Bas Ramselaar are very good, though Ramselaar sounds more like he is singing in Italian than French.

When you look at all the music you get - in good to excellent recordings - from Bach to Brahms, from Mozart to Verdi, you will not be disappointed by this set. If you are a true fan of this music, you will certainly find some works that are not among the best, but this kind of set is more to become familiar with these great works than to present the best recordings with the top performers. Kudos again to Brilliant Classics for bringing quality recordings to listeners at such low prices.
Kirk McElhearn

CD16
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Requiem in D minor KV 626
Total time: 48'16
Pamela Heuvelmans, soprano; Barbara Werner, alto
Robert Morvaj, tenor; Thomas Pfeiffer, bass
Nordic Chamber Choir
Süddeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim
Nicol Matt, conductor

 CD17
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Mass in C minor KV 427
Total time: 52'55
 
Ruth Ziesak, soprano
Alison Browner, alto
Uwe Heilmann, tenor
Reinhard Hagen, bass
Süddeutscher Madrigalchor Stuttgart
Orchester der Ludwigsburger Festspiele, Wolfgang Gännenwein

CD18
Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Mass in C major Op. 86
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Laudate Dominum in A major K321
Exsultate, jubilate in F major K165
Total time: 61'06
1-5 performed by:
Magdalena Hajossyova, soprano
Jitka Zerhauova, alto
Peter Oswald, tenor
Peter Mikulas, bass
Slovak Philharmonic Choir &
Orchestra, Anton Nanut
6-7 performed by:
Gabriele Fuchs, soprano
Angelika Novak, mezzosoprano
Franz Sailer, tenor
Hartmut Müller, bass
Camerata Academica Salzburg, Ernst Hinreiner

CD19
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
Requiem Op. 98 part 1
Total time: 48'00
Magdalena Hajossyova, soprano
Vera Soukupova, alto
Jozef Kundlak, tenor
Peter Mikulas, bass
Slovak Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Zdenek Kosler

CD20
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
Requiem Op. 98 part 2

Total time: 54'32
Magdalena Hajossyova, soprano
Vera Soukupova, alto
Jozef Kundlak, tenor
Peter Mikulas, bass
Slovak Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Zdenek Kosler

CD21
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Ein Deutsches Requiem Op. 45
Total time: 70'23
Anna Tomowa-Sintow, soprano
Günther Leib, baritone
Rundfunk-Solistenvereinigung
und Rundfunkchor Berlin
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin,
Helmut Koch

CD22
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Messa da Requiem
Total time: 78'50
Daniela Nedialkova, soprano
Ivanka Ninova, mezzo soprano
Roumen Doikov, tenor
Emil Ponorski, bass
Choir & Orchestra of the Sofia Opera, Ivan Marinov

CD23
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Requiem Op. 48
Gabriel Fauré
Cantique de Jean Racine
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
Ave Verum
Anton Bruckner
Motet Locus iste
Edward Elgar
Ave Verum
William Byrd
Ave Verum
Edvard Grieg
Ave Maris Stella
Antonio Lotti
Crucifixus
Cesar Franck
Panis Angelicus
 
Total time: 68'40
Maja Roodveldt, soprano
Bas Ramselaar, bass
Holland Boys Choir
Hungarian Chamber Orchestra
Pieter-Jan Leusink, conductor
The Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge
Christopher Robinson, Director of Music

CD24
Maurice Duruflé
Requiem Op. 9
Choir of New College Oxford Ensemble Capricorn
David Burchell, organ
Edward Higginbottom, Director of Music
Arvo Pärt
Magnificat Antiphonen
Missa Sillabica
Total time: 63'07
Cappella Breda, Daan Manneke
Ensemble Calefax (Missa Sillabica)
 
CD25
Leonard Bernstein:
Chichester Psalms
John Rutter
Gloria
Francis Poulenc
Quatre petites prières de St François d'Assise
 
Total time: 60'04
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (1-6)
The Wallace Collection
Rachel Masters, harp
Timothy Brown, conductor
Corydon Singers,
Matthew Best (7-13)
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 99757 (approx. 25 hours)

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