Te Deum, WoO.16 (1853) [10:05]
De Profundis (Psalm 130), op.141 (1867) [40:21]
*Pater Noster, WoO.32 (1869) [7:55]
*Ave Maria, WoO.33 (1869) [6:29]
*Vier Marianischen Antiphonen, WoO.27 (1867) [15:10]
Karlstad Chamber Choir and Stockholm Singers/Anders Hörngren
Gothenburg Opera Orchestra/Henrik Schaefer, *Bo Aurehl
rec. Gothenburg Concert Hall, 25 May 2012; *Stora Kil church, Sweden, 16-18 October 2011.
STERLING CDS1098-2 [79:59]
With a new cycle of Joachim Raff's highly idiomatic, imaginative symphonies
under way on Chandos (see review
of volume 1), as well as Tra Nguyen's excellent recording for Grand Piano
of the complete solo piano works (review
of latest volume), another aspect of this much underrated composer's considerable
output is opened with this very generous recording of some major and minor
religious works for choir. A previous release from Sterling focused on
Raff's secular choral music (CDS 1089).
The Swedish voices heard here are of a decent quality, with few real weaknesses,
especially in the unaccompanied works. It is a surprise to read that the
majority of Karlstads Kammarkör's singers are amateurs. Choirmaster
Anders Hörngren does a good job of maintaining discipline and togetherness,
with individual voices only rarely standing out where they ought not.
As a bonus, it is gratifying to hear the final [r]s of 'Pater Noster'
and other Latin words pronounced as they should be, rather than vocalised
the way most English singers do.
The Gothenburg Opera Orchestra is not one of the world's finest, and the
playing in the Te Deum is not entirely convincing. The effect is not helped
by an unsatisfactory balance that at times threatens to overwhelm the
choir who for their part seem in awe of the instrumental forces. There
is also a fairly obvious editing join at 1'40 on the first track. On the
other hand, the inherent lossiness of Sterling's audio may already have
deterred listeners - this is not a disc for audiophiles. Yet sound is
not flat by any means, and doubtless many ears will not find all that
much to get upset about.
Raff's music at any rate is undeniably exquisite. The three a cappella
works are gentle and serene, neo-Renaissance in spirit, reminiscent in
many ways of Brahms. The Te Deum is strikingly lyrical, although it probably
needs a more polished performance to do it true justice. The De Profundis
is the main focus of the recording and outside the symphonies among Raff's
most massive works. At the time of composition Raff was into his prime,
embarking on a decade of incredible fertility. De Profundis is a work
of great drama and, living up to its title, great solemnity, harking back
to the masterly models of previous centuries - Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.
All performers are on much better form here - perhaps the Te Deum was
recorded afterwards, when everyone was, quite understandably, physically
and emotionally drained by the powerful De Profundis.
The accompanying booklet notes are by Raff scholar Avrohom Leichtling,
who also wrote for Chandos in the above-mentioned recording, and are so
thorough and detailed as to almost justify the cover price on their own!
There is nothing that anyone could want to know about these works that
Leichtling omits to discuss. The biographies are thorough in their way,
if sometimes too much so: "The Göteborg Opera Orchestra is the only
orchestra ever to have received the Opera Prize given by the Swedish newspaper
Svenska Dagbladet". Phew.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at artmusicreviews.co.uk
See also review by Rob Barnett
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Raff's music is undeniably exquisite.