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Mozart Mass in C Minor

116.68.123.35
Posted on January 12, 2015 at 20:14:02
Bill the K
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 I have been listening to various versions of Exultate, jubilate KV 165 and I like Kathleen Battle the best, a little better than Arleen Auger. Any comments?

Thanks
Bill

 

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RE: Mozart Mass in C Minor, posted on January 13, 2015 at 03:23:51
pbarach
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Posts: 3306
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 Judith Raskin with Szell/Cleveland

 

RE: Mozart Mass in C Minor, posted on January 13, 2015 at 07:18:28
jec01
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Posts: 1462
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 In our house, Emma Kirkby's version is considered to be a Desert Island Disc.

Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

 

I own both; both have their strengths. nt, posted on January 13, 2015 at 09:07:40
tinear
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Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006
 sfda

 

RE: Mozart Mass in C Minor, posted on January 13, 2015 at 09:44:03
Bill the K
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Posts: 8384
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Just listened to Emma Kirby, a gentle kinder version it sounds. The accent is different, rolled into a sweet tone. Good.

Regards
Bill

 

Bill - why is the subject of your post "Mozart Mass in C Minor". . . , posted on January 13, 2015 at 11:12:49
Chris from Lafayette
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 . . . when the body of it deals only with the solo motet, "Exsultate, jubilate"?

I haven't heard either Battle or Auger in Exsultate, but both of these singers have been fine in other repertoire I've heard them in (especially Auger). I have a video with Ruth Ziesak and Muti: Ziesak is wonderful, but the SQ is not that great AFAIR (haven't listened to it in a while).

 

Scott Joplin's opera "Treemonisha", posted on January 13, 2015 at 12:16:04
rbolaw
 Why worry about his post heading, Chris? Both are examples of great sacred vocal music by Mozart, so that's close enough, I should think.

 

D'oh! You got me again!, posted on January 13, 2015 at 12:32:03
Chris from Lafayette
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 Still, I was just kind of. . . wonderin'. . .

(And if I really wanted to be paranoid, I'd think it was some kind of false flag operation!)

 

Out of 92, here are Arkivmusic's Recommendations +BABE ALERT, posted on January 13, 2015 at 17:23:00
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7799
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000


The # in parens is how many listings there are. Usually those only represent inclusions in differing compilations or couplings... .

Bartoli, Cecilia (2)
Battle, Kathleen (1)
Bonney, Barbara [Soprano Vocal] (1)
Brown, Donna [Soprano] (1)
Constable, John (1)
Davidson, Grace (1)
Dolukhanova, Zara (1)
Gauvin, Karina (1)
Gritton, Susan (1)
Gueden, Hilde (1)
Häger, Klaus (1)
Kremer, Annemarie (2)
Maniaci, Michael (1)
McNair, Sylvia (1)
Persson, Miah (1)
Raskin, Judith (1)
Ruiten, Lenneke (1)
Sampson, Carolyn (1)
Schlick, Barbara (1)
Schubert, Claudia (1)
Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth (1)
Seefried, Irmgard (1)
Stader, Maria (1)
Te Kanawa, Dame Kiri (1)
Ullmann, Marcus (1)
Wakim, Teresa (1)

SURPRISINGLY not on their R list is one of my favorite Mozart songbirds, Lucia Popp. Treasurable. I have never heard a Lucia Popp recording I did not love.

Other faves of mine include Kiri te K., of course--but that is I am rather sure more of an operatic than sacred performance--and yes, I know that there was a rather large overlap between opera and sacred music, post-Council of Trent. And Sylvia McNair.

Scanning that list, I came across a singer I dimly recalled--Miah Persson. So I dialed up her version, and, it is, ach, really really great, and, tant mieux, oh la la, what a babe!

Wayul, a Mature Babe.

OK, a Mature Intelligent Lady Friend.

(First person who gets that dooble on-ton-dereh, email me and I will send you--something.)

Yeah, stir crazy with deadlines.

Some of us have not resigned...

JM


 

I like the pic - I've got that recording too, posted on January 13, 2015 at 18:00:18
Chris from Lafayette
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 Here's another good one (same singer):



BTW, I agree with you about Lucia Popp's recording too. And if we're just talking about the Alleluia, you gotta hear Anna Moffo! (Not her usual repertoire by any means!)

 

RE: Scott Joplin's opera "Treemonisha", posted on January 13, 2015 at 18:03:21
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 You're right of course.

We should just post any old thing in the heading and expect the rest of us to figure it out.

Correct?






"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

Sorry, my mistake, posted on January 13, 2015 at 20:06:24
Bill the K
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Joined: June 3, 2006
 Chris, thanks for the post.

I had the Bernstein DG CD of Mass in front of me, which also has Exsultate in it, while posting. Arleen Auger is the Soprano.

My comparisons are not many and done thru my humble system. I wonder of the Sopranos fare different on Vivid Audio based system. I dont know if I can say this but just dont like Bartoli's version. She goes up like a staircase rather than a smooth ramp and violently overwhelming.

Regards
Bill

 

I don't know if this is what you're hearing with Cecelia, but. . . , posted on January 13, 2015 at 23:25:16
Chris from Lafayette
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 . . . I feel that she aspirates her runs somewhat more noticeably than most other singers do. Perhaps that's what you're hearing as the staircase, rather than the smooth ramp? In any case, I agree that this is not an attractive feature of her singing.

 

RE: Out of 92, here are Arkivmusic's Recommendations +BABE ALERT, posted on January 14, 2015 at 04:30:11
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8384
Joined: June 3, 2006
 No 'resigning', my friend.

Cheers
Bill

 

RE: Out of 92, here are Arkivmusic's Recommendations +BABE ALERT, posted on January 14, 2015 at 07:08:54
jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 1462
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004
 Hey, she's only 45 years old. Let's not go too far with the "mature" bit.

Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

 

RE: Scott Joplin's opera "Treemonisha", posted on January 14, 2015 at 09:07:16
rbolaw
 Of course an accurate subject line is a good idea, Travis, I was just kidding around a bit with Chris. The OP just made a mistake, something we all do.
Best wishes,
Roy

 

RE: Scott Joplin's opera "Treemonisha", posted on January 14, 2015 at 09:12:46
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 Sorry I was snarky.


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

No Teresa Stich-Randall, alas, posted on January 14, 2015 at 14:08:56
rbolaw
 She has a superb performance on record, though other aspects of that recording are less than ideal, imho.

 

- famous for driving around Vienna in her Alpha Romeo sports car too! [nt] ;-), posted on January 14, 2015 at 14:29:30
Chris from Lafayette
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Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012

 

A story about her recording of Mahler's 4th, posted on January 14, 2015 at 17:41:01
TGR
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Posts: 3002
Location: No. California
Joined: March 22, 2004
 A few years ago a number of us were gathered at Robert Lang's home in Oakland to meet Jared Sacks of Channel Classics - Chris from Lafayette was there too, so he'll remember that Sacks told us that when it came to recording that particular day, Ms. Persson was completely unable to sing on key, so they had to piece the recording together bar by bar....you would never know - as I recall, we listened to the entire work all of the way through, and not only is it a great sounding recording, the group (mostly a bunch of middle-aged men) were visibly and audibly moved.

 

The streaming version of her Wigmore Hall recital sounds great., posted on January 14, 2015 at 18:01:43
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7799
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
 Perhaps not as perfect in the same songs as the studio recording of Margaret Price and Sawallisch, but, darn good.

Perhaps she needs a cabana boy?

Or, someone to whip her with birch branches?

OK, now I do rehab.

jm

 

Keep up the good work, posted on January 15, 2015 at 17:04:17
13th Duke of Wymbourne
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Location: Orange Co., Ca
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 Even though I have no interest in that recording I still read your current column all through, engrossed. Years of lurking on Steve Hoffman's site have taught that the provenance of master tapes is not always obvious!

I also enjoyed your Christmas present ideas - very thoughtful.

Regards
13DoW

 

RE: Out of 92, here are Arkivmusic's Recommendations +BABE ALERT, posted on January 15, 2015 at 19:34:19
Logan
Audiophile

Posts: 442
Location: Auckland
Joined: September 18, 2004
 Some years ago I found myself in the front row for a performance of Der Rosenkavalier, overlooking the orchestra pit. The start of act II occasioned an intake of breath from the entire audience - the young singer (hitherto unknown to me) playing Sophie was simply incredibly beautiful. My wife whispered to me, "You have my permission to lust", but I was also interested in finding out if this vision could actually sing. I decided that she could, at a very acceptable level (and in tune).

At the end of the the Act I consulted my program and found that she was one Miah Persson, from Sweden, in the initial stages of her career. While I was perusing the program a cellist who had remained in the pit to practice some passages from Act III leaned over the wall and asked me if he could look at it. I noted he was reading the page containing biographical notes on the cast. When he handed it back to me he said, "I'm a substitute for tonight's performance and I've never rehearsed with the cast present, so I don't know any of them. I swear I'm going to climb onto the stage at the end and propose marriage (or something) to that hot blonde, and I'd like to know her name".

Of course he didn't, but this amusing incident prompted me to follow Ms Persson's career with more than usual interest. I was not surprised when it went from strength to strength. I was reminded then and now of the voice qualities of the late Lucia Popp, a soprano whom I revere and continue to worship.

One day I'll recount a funny story about attending a Lucia Popp recital in London. But it can wait until an appropriate time.

 

THANK YOU! Yes, Miah and Lucia! And Sarah!, posted on January 15, 2015 at 20:59:04
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7799
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000



THANKS!

I am embarrassed to say that I had loved Lucia Popp's singing for years (decades?), thinking that she was just one more in the seemingly endless line of wonderful lady singers England somehow managed to produce, despite having little in the way of musical culture except for Cathedral singing (oops!), only to find out that Lucia Popp was the Hometown Honey of: Bratislava!

Wayul, shut my mouth!

And you know who else lines up in that fach? Sarah Connolly. IMHO.

I somehow wrangled backstage access for myself and my very talented singer daughter after Sir Colin Davis' final (final) Boston Symphony Gerontius, and when I stopped Miss Connolly walking by by using a cute pickup line, she definitely regarded me as just another brassy Yank. But not knowing how important or not I was, she had to play nice, I guess.

But, then I told her that her singing had so reminded me of Alfreda Hodgson's, and I really thought she was going to melt.

She changed so much--(my imagined thought processes for her) "Oh, he might really know something about music, and oh--that's not a girlfriend, that's his daughter, who sings."

I did not get out the trowel to lay it on that one of my daughter's vocal coaches had been Sir David Willcocks. Or that I had tried to hire Ms. Hodgson, but--too late. So I hired Kaaren Erickson, but then she died too, weeks before the CD was released.

All that said, the change in Miss Connolly's attitude was very gratifying.

So, here's a different version of what I heard Sarah Connolly sing twice in Boston:







Heartbreaking. But addictive.

ATB,

john


 

Thanks. Please join "The Peasants with Pitch Pipes." And toast their future success with CTNDP!, posted on January 17, 2015 at 06:57:30
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7799
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000





You can imagine how relieved I was to find out that the mid- to late-1970s LP I bought in Nashville was also sharp and fast. But not quite as sharp and fast as the Abbey Road SACD. So my failure to hear that the Abbey Road SACD set was sharp is partially understandable.

A helpful reader in NZ emailed me the timings of the Esoteric SACD, and it does seem that it is sharp and fast, and how could it not be? If Abbey Road sent them 24/96 files (Abbey Road does not have DSD capabilities...), those files are sharp and fast; but even if Abbey Road sent Esoteric (which I highly doubt) their (the UK) analog master, which is the 1973 replacement "Re-Mix Master Tape," that tape is fast and sharp too. That tape is the origin of the problem.

The chances of Esoteric having had access to the original, created at Capitol Studios razor-blade-edited stereo mixdown master tape are in my view non-existent. So, keep your wallets in your pants re: the Esoteric SACD.

To my delighted surprise, this column really seems to have struck a chord--an A-Major chord, I think! (My favorite section of the first movement.)

So, I have renewed my efforts to get Warner Music to task someone to search EMI/Angel/Capitol's US tape vaults. I know that there is little hope of that, but if you look at what Testament gets for the fastnsharp LP and what the OOP Esoteric SACD fetches on the used market, there remains robust demand, so there should be a business case for doing it one final time, with a straight to DSD transfer, and doing it right.

BTW, the companion in the EMI set is the Berlin LvB Triple Concerto, which, snob that I am, since my student days I have thought of as the Tripe Concerto, and it is even more off pitch than the Cleveland Brahms, but I don't care. It's a grim slog though a middling piece that nobody would know had it been penned by a nobody.

The photo is from a reader who loved the column and just by coincidence had the same bottle in his cellar.

Ciao,

JM

 

RE: Mozart Mass in C Minor, posted on January 17, 2015 at 21:23:19
bald2
Audiophile

Posts: 338
Location: Oregon
Joined: January 21, 2006
 Since no one has mentioned it that I can see, I will vote for Maria Stader with Ferenc Fricsay on DG. Extraordinarily gorgeous, moving singing and music making.

Harry

 

Exultate, jubilate KV 165, posted on January 18, 2015 at 22:10:43
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8384
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Very good. Thanks.

Cheers
Bill

 

Exultate, jubilate KV 165, posted on January 18, 2015 at 22:16:07
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8384
Joined: June 3, 2006
 I like Victoria de los Angeles a lot. Very musical and she sings in an unhurried manner. I think she is slower than other singers taking couple of minutes more. Very relaxed, nice. What do yo'all think.

Cheers
Bill

 

RE: Mozart Mass in C Minor, posted on January 26, 2015 at 13:37:58
eleiko2@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 207
Joined: October 4, 2008
 Vote #2 for Raskin and the Cleveland Orchestra. My vinyl copy of it is worn.

 

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