Haydn: Nelsonmesse; Theresienmesse

Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner Click to View Enlarged Image Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn CD INFO: Philips 470 286-2 Reviewer: Ward Botsford         Donna Brown – Sally Bruce-Payne – Peter Butterfield – Gerald Finley – Monteverdi Choir

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REVIEW:
This is one of the best examples I’ve ever heard of choral singing and not too incidentally the art of baroque instrument playing. It is great! It is monumental! If you miss this you’re missing a great set.

Of course the bulk of the praise goes to Gardiner and my hat is off to him. But such meticulousness in the choral singing especially is something to be treasured.

If this is a threat to treat all of the Haydn Masses with similar care and attention, I am all ears. And as long as we’re at it the Schubert Masses require similar attention.

About the only negative thing to be said is that the male end of the soloists are less than exemplary but fortunately their part is small.

Very good sound and good notes do the set no real harm either.