Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber :: Mass: The Most Powerful, Uplifting & Passionate Music You Will Ever Hear

Amazing music, amazing variety

John Long | Silicon Valley, CA | 09/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite CD for 2001. It has, first of all, amazing variety. The music spans some 4 centuries, and encompasses all kinds of styles. From Verdi's aggresive Dies Irae to Preisner's haunting Lacrimosa(worth the price of the CD alone), there is something here for whatever mood you are in. I am not usually one to buy samplers; I prefer entire works given the continuity and attention required. However, in this case, it works wonderfully, and the pacing of the selections is quite satisfying.I have sung quite a few of these pieces, and the performances and recordings are all excellent, although one or two have a fairly audible hiss. The audio quality is on occasion distracting, but it is still overall good. I would not let that deter you from buying this, however. If you have never heard a mass or if you are an aficionado of "Kirie's" and "Gloria's", I would recommend this CD without reservation."

Creating its own spiritual experience

A Reader | La Jolla, CA United States | 07/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What I would underline in the other, very keen review - which convinced me to buy it, myself - is that this is one-of-a-kind. There's not that provincial, self-serving-label feel to this; nor did they just drag up back catalog in order to sell a disk or two. The 2 CDs work as a whole, with a felt sense of integrity. I, too, don't like samplers, but this creates an exceptional experience. Quite reverential, it produces an effect of greatness and you almost understand what it is that has united people in their use of Mass for almost a thousand years. In addition to bringing old chestnut composers, I really appreciated discovering newer ones. And the Faure Pie Jesu is delicately exquisite here. But, yes, I think you will all discover and appreciate the composer Zbigniew Preisner, whose stunning Lacrimosa rises from the depths of despair and loss, leaving you lifted with its last echoes. (It's from his "Requiem for my friend" - memorializing the very wonderful director Krzysztof Kieslowski, with whom he collaborated for many years.) You would do well to seek out that CD, too."

A beautiful variety

Bethany | Atlanta, Ga, USA | 06/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This has got 2 be 1 of my fav. cd's of all time. The variety & arrangment seems 2 be very well planned. While all of the songs are very beautiful & breathtaking, my 2 favs are the Requiem for My Friend by Preisner & the Dies Irae immediately following it. If you ever run across the Preisner Requiem I would highly recommend that you buy it b/c it is soooo expressive & emotional."