Yet another highly
stylish and well presented release from
the French label, Editions Hortus. And,
yes, it does feature yet another recording
of the Vierne Messe Solenelle.
This is the first, as far as I know,
to be recorded in the room for which
it was intended, and the combination,
and, especially, the contribution of
the organs makes for compelling listening.
Among the current crop
of recordings of the Messe Solennelle,
this scores highly. The organ-playing
is top drawer, Philippe Lefèbvre
especially in his element at the grand
orgue. And if the large mixed choir
isn’t quite up the to standards of Westminster
Cathedral on Hyperion, it scores much
higher than the Toulouse ensemble ‘Les
Elements’ featured on the Temperaments/Radio
France recording with Michel Bouvard
playing the St Sernin Cavaillé-Coll.
If the choir is all-important, then
Westminster Cathedral is the one to
have. If the organ has to be French
on the other hand then it’s a straight
fight between this and the Festivo recording
featuring Christine Kamp playing the
utterly sublime Cavaillé-Coll
in Rouen. The Notre-Dame organ is a
little less authentic of course, post-Cochereau,
though still stunning in its own way.
My choice would be for the present recording,
but only just; the more fluid tempi
seem to me a touch more natural. Actually,
go out and buy both, neither will disappoint
and the contrast between the organs
is fascinating.
Another element which
may colour your choice however, might
be the coupling. While the Festivo release
is part of a cycle of Vierne’s organ
works, the present coupling, Jean Pierre
Leguay’s Mass, is a very different kettle
of fish; highly atonal, making stunning
use of the space for which it was written,
and featuring improvisatory elements
in the grand-orgue part. This won’t,
in short, be for everyone. The sheer
drama of the Sanctus, with its enormous
dynamic contrasts between the soprano
solo, and the tom-toms on the one hand,
and the enormous organ tutti (plus brass)
discords on the other is, in any case,
breathtaking. Leguay’s 6 to 8 part,
highly complex, choral writing and imaginative
use of the brass instruments greatly
adds to this colourful work.
As with everything
produced by Hortus this is highly recommendable.
My only gripe is that, at under 55 minutes,
the CD is seriously short. A shame then,
that the opportunity wasn’t taken to
allow another mass for two organs and
choir to be heard. A good example might
have been the work by Léonce
de Saint-Martin, who was after all titulaire
of the grand-orgue between Vierne and
Leguay.
Chris Bragg
for details
Philippe Lefèbvre (Vierne); Jean-Pierre
Leguay (Leguay) (grand orgue) 
