Handel - Dixit Dominus · Salve Regina · Laudate pueri · Saeviat tellus / Massis · Kozená · Fulgoni · Henckens · McLean-Mair · Pujol · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
We know Handel mostly for the operas (Ariodante, for example), biblical oratorios (Messiah), and instrumental works (Water Music) he wrote for London high society. Yet he was producing masterpieces such as these Latin sacred works composed in Rome when he was barely into his 20s. The big chorus-and-orchestra Dixit Dominus and the soprano showpieces Sæviat tellus, Laudate pueri, and Salve Regina have been recorded several times in recent years (including, most notably, Andrew Parrott's thrilling full-scale reconstruction of the lavish Vespers service for which Handel probably wrote these works), yet this lively performance by Marc Minkowski and les Musiciens du Louvre is as good as any of them. Since Handel wrote this music for virtuoso castratos, it's no surprise that the stars here are the (female) sopranos Annick Massis and Magdalena Kozená. Both have sweet, flexible voices with more body than, say, Emma Kirkby or Jill Feldman (two of Parrott's divas), yet without the wide vibrato and relentless legato that make so many singers unsuitable for period-instrument Handel. The performance isn't flawless: Massis does sometimes let her vibrato, however narrow, get in the way of long, sustained notes; the choir, surprisingly, lets vibrato get in its way overall, sounding better suited to Beethoven than Handel. Yet the energetic tempos and generally skillful execution make this a very worthwhile release. It competes against one of Parrott's finest recordings (two discs for a lower price than Minkowski's one), but if you don't want all that chant mixed in with your Handel or happen to dislike singers such as Kirkby and Feldman, then you won't find a better Dixit Dominus than this. In fact, real Handel fans should want both. --Matthew Westphal

Handel - Dixit Dominus · Salve Regina · Laudate pueri · Saeviat tellus / Massis · Kozená · Fulgoni · Henckens · McLean-Mair · Pujol · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski, Music, Magdalena Kozená, George Frideric Handel, Marc Minkowski, Annick Massis, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Sara Fulgoni, Patrick Henckens, Kevin McLean-Mair, Marcos Pujol, Valérie Gabail, Yann Miriel, Mirella Giardelli, Pascal Monteilhet, Chamber Music & Recitals, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Hymn, Motet, Psalm Setting, Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble, Vocal
Handel - Dixit Dominus · Salve Regina · Laudate pueri · Saeviat tellus / Massis · Kozená · Fulgoni · Henckens · McLean-Mair · Pujol · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Ethereal Clarity Sublime Baroque singing
  • Very disappointing performance of Dixit Dominus
  • A Mixed Bag - Some Good, Some Very Bad!
  • Minkowski does it again!
  • Vivid and enthralling
 Handel - Dixit Dominus · Salve Regina · Laudate pueri · Saeviat tellus / Massis · Kozená · Fulgoni · Henckens · McLean-Mair · Pujol · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Magdalena Kozená , George Frideric Handel , Marc Minkowski , Annick Massis , Les Musiciens du Louvre , Sara Fulgoni , Patrick Henckens , Kevin McLean-Mair , Marcos Pujol , Valérie Gabail , Yann Miriel , Mirella Giardelli , and Pascal Monteilhet
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HandelAll Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
HymnsHymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MotetsMotets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
PsalmsPsalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00002DETD
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

  1. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: Saeviat tellus
  2. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: Carmelitarum ut confirmet
  3. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: O nox dulcis
  4. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: Stellae fidae
  5. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: Sub tantae Virginis tutela
  6. Saeviat tellus inter rigores HWV 240: Alleluia
  7. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Laudate pueri
  8. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Sit nomen Domini
  9. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: A solis ortu
  10. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Excelsus super omnes
  11. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Quis sicut Dominus
  12. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Suscitans a terra inopem
  13. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Qui habitare facit
  14. Laudate pueri Dominum HWV 237: Gloria Patri
  15. Salve Regina HWV 241: Salve Regina
  16. Salve Regina HWV 241: Ad te clamamus
  17. Salve Regina HWV 241: Eia ergo, advocata nostra
  18. Salve Regina HWV 241: O clemens, o pia
  19. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Dixit Dominus
  20. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Virgam virtutis
  21. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Tecum principium
  22. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Juravit Dominus
  23. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Tu es sacerdos
  24. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Dominus a dextris tuis
  25. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: De torrente in via bibet
  26. Dixit Dominus HWV 232: Gloria Patri

Amazon.com

We know Handel mostly for the operas (Ariodante, for example), biblical oratorios (Messiah), and instrumental works (Water Music) he wrote for London high society. Yet he was producing masterpieces such as these Latin sacred works composed in Rome when he was barely into his 20s. The big chorus-and-orchestra Dixit Dominus and the soprano showpieces Sæviat tellus, Laudate pueri, and Salve Regina have been recorded several times in recent years (including, most notably, Andrew Parrott's thrilling full-scale reconstruction of the lavish Vespers service for which Handel probably wrote these works), yet this lively performance by Marc Minkowski and les Musiciens du Louvre is as good as any of them. Since Handel wrote this music for virtuoso castratos, it's no surprise that the stars here are the (female) sopranos Annick Massis and Magdalena Kozená. Both have sweet, flexible voices with more body than, say, Emma Kirkby or Jill Feldman (two of Parrott's divas), yet without the wide vibrato and relentless legato that make so many singers unsuitable for period-instrument Handel. The performance isn't flawless: Massis does sometimes let her vibrato, however narrow, get in the way of long, sustained notes; the choir, surprisingly, lets vibrato get in its way overall, sounding better suited to Beethoven than Handel. Yet the energetic tempos and generally skillful execution make this a very worthwhile release. It competes against one of Parrott's finest recordings (two discs for a lower price than Minkowski's one), but if you don't want all that chant mixed in with your Handel or happen to dislike singers such as Kirkby and Feldman, then you won't find a better Dixit Dominus than this. In fact, real Handel fans should want both. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Ethereal Clarity Sublime Baroque singing.......2005-05-14

This music shines blissfully though the centuries and Kozena's voice, passion, sincerity and articulation will make your spirit soar. Handel, the master of the joyous oratorio does not disappoint and Massis' performance is of equal brilliance.

Hard day? This could be the antidote you need!

2 out of 5 stars Very disappointing performance of Dixit Dominus.......2005-03-28

If the use of 'pedestrian' to describe a music performance is ever justified, this would be it. This is a horrible, horrible performance of Dixit Dominus - this piece demands a lot of the choir, but they don't even try to hit the right pitch. Handel would not appreciate this cacophony. I don't remember much of the remaining on the disc. I was too dismayed that I donated my copy to the school library.

3 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag - Some Good, Some Very Bad!.......2002-04-04

Dixit, Laudate, Saeviat are some of Handel's most glorious music. Overall I would NOT recommend this disk highly, if at all. The soloists are all very nice, esp the sop Massis, but the orchestration and choir are not at all musical for the most part, with a wooden, almost military feel with little, if any, expression. This is not helped by the ridiculous tempi imposed by the conductor. Much of the music is FAR too fast, resulting in a rushed feel, with the soloists and other performers having to compensate - not a good sound! A real shame, because if the music weren't so rushed, it would be far more attractive. Having said that, the 'De Torrente' sop duet in Dixit is ravishing, and almost perfect in it's gentle, lilting pace - very odd to say the least given the furious pace of the initial Dixit chorus (FAR too fast!) Perhaps the lack of musicality evident in most of the disk is due to the excessive speed? For a better Laudate and Dixit on the one disk I'd go for Stephen Cleobury with the English Chamber Orch and Kings College Choir. Not perfect, but far more preferable to my ears!

4 out of 5 stars Minkowski does it again!.......2002-01-16

If you want to experience some absolutely wonderful music by Handel that is rarely performed then you should check out this disc. As I have made clear in my other reviews, I am a big fan of Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra. These are passionate and exciting performances like most of his productions. Though, some things disturbs me. Most of all:
Why no harsichord? Many of the pieces would strongly benefit from the use of a harpsichord. The rhytmical details are really quite lost in the more dramatic movements and the textures easily gets blurry. It might be "authentic" in some way but there are so many other things that are not so why does he bother? As usual the french choirs are not really impressive. The intonation is far from impeccable but still, compared to for example the choir of C. Rousset, good and acceptable. Overall a great disc which is by the way a live recording. Kozena and Massis are superb. Dixit Dominus is the true highlight of the cd. If you like Handel it's worth buying just for this piece!
Yet another recording that kills of the "flat-earthers" illusion that period performances are boring!!

5 out of 5 stars Vivid and enthralling.......2001-12-29

Having just panned John Eliot Gardiner's recent recording of Dixit Dominus (Philips, Nov. 2001), I will only say here that this disc is eminently satisfactory for all the reasons cited in the other reviews. I'm especially taken with the solo work, and with Ms. Massis in particular - her account of Saeviat Tellus is a marvel. Minkowski gives the Dixit all of its startling, vivid color and the live performance seems to add to the lustre. Don't hesitate to invest in this recording - it will repay you with hours of listening pleasure. Stanley Sadie is right!

Music Review:

  1. Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 "Sun", Nos. 4-6
  2. Ives: Holidays Symphony
  3. John Rutter: Te Deum and other church music
  4. John Williams: Treesong
  5. Kathleen Ferrier - Mahler ~ Kindertotenlieder & Gluck ~ Greene ~ Handel ~ Mendelssohn ~ Purcell / Baillie, Moore, B. Walter
  6. Leonard Rose: The Memorial Edition
  7. Let Your Voice Be Heard
  8. Liszt: Années de pèlerinage - Suisse
  9. Liszt: Sonata in B Minor; Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude
  10. Mahler: Symphonie No.3 in D Minor

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