Beethoven: Missa Solemnis / Mei, Lipovsek, Rolfe Johnson, Holl; Harnoncourt

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Beethoven conceived this piece for a liturgical ceremony--the elevation of his friend and patron Archduke Rudolf to high ecclesiastical office--but in the end delivered the music several years late. During that time, the piece had grown beyond the limitations of an actual service and become something else entirely. Like Bach's B-minor Mass, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis is one of the most gigantic settings of the text in existence, and one of the most difficult choral works ever for the singers. Nikolaus Harnoncourt's performance seems to thrive on the challenge. He directs an exciting and very human interpretation that's sung with impressive fervor and played to the hilt. This is the real McCoy. --David Hurwitz

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis / Mei, Lipovsek, Rolfe Johnson, Holl; Harnoncourt, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Chamber Orchestra Of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Eva Mei, Marjana Lipovsek, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Robert Holl, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Mass
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis / Mei, Lipovsek, Rolfe Johnson, Holl; Harnoncourt
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Scintillating or synthetic?
  • One Of The Best Recordings Of Missa Solemnis Ever
  • This is the best "Missa Solemnis" recording.
 Beethoven: Missa Solemnis / Mei, Lipovsek, Rolfe Johnson, Holl; Harnoncourt
Eva Mei , Marjana Lipovsek , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , Robert Holl , and Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MassesMasses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000SGA
Release Date: 1993-03-09

Tracks:

  1. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Kyrie
  2. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Gloria
  3. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Credo

Tracks:

  1. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Sanctus
  2. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Benedictus
  3. Missa Solemnis, Op. 123: Agnus Dei

Amazon.com

Beethoven conceived this piece for a liturgical ceremony--the elevation of his friend and patron Archduke Rudolf to high ecclesiastical office--but in the end delivered the music several years late. During that time, the piece had grown beyond the limitations of an actual service and become something else entirely. Like Bach's B-minor Mass, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis is one of the most gigantic settings of the text in existence, and one of the most difficult choral works ever for the singers. Nikolaus Harnoncourt's performance seems to thrive on the challenge. He directs an exciting and very human interpretation that's sung with impressive fervor and played to the hilt. This is the real McCoy. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Scintillating or synthetic?.......2003-02-04

Harnoncourt expresses the interesting idea that `beauty is to be found on the edge of safety'. When this dangerous search is successful the results can be illuminating and thrilling. They were in Harnoncourt's blazingly idiomatic performances of the symphonies - with the one notable exception of the `Pastoral'. That version of the Pastoral is a comparatively effete and flaccid affair (besides e.g. Walter, Schuricht, Klemperer, Szell, Norrington, etc.) And, disappointingly, Harnoncourt's view of the great Missa Solemnis is of a similar cut. It is in fact difficult listening to this version of the Missa Solemnis to recognise that this is the same conductor who gave such consummately satisfying versions of the symphonies. This performance seems almost wholly discontinuous with the spirit scintillating in Harnoncourt's performances of the 3rd, 4th, 5th , 7th and 8th symphonies in particular (though there are pre-echoes of his approach to the Missa in some parts of the performance of the 9th).

There is little evidence here of the revelatory spirit that infused the performances of the symphonies. The `beauty' Harnoncourt achieves in the Missa sounds synthetic, an `affect' rather than a true expression of the sublime and incandescent soul of this towering masterpiece - here of all places in Beethoven that spells failure. There is an over-reliance on slow, even at times (in the Kyrie and Agnus Dei) languid tempi, conveying an impression that the meditative element is contrived - to this listener at least it doesn't sound `Beethovenian'. (As crude a measure as timings are they can be revealing - Kyrie: Harnoncourt 12.12 mins; Toscanini 9.06, Klemperer 9.26; Ormandy 9.58 (yes, Ormandy! not at all a bad performance); Agnus Dei, Harnoncourt 16.25; Toscanini 14.47; Klemperer 15.14; Ormandy 14.06.) Neither do the climaxes possess the gravitas that is essential to their faithful expression.

As long as Klemperer's magisterial performance (New Philiharmonia Chorus and Orchestra) continues to radiate its incomparable glories Harnoncourt's recording will be eclipsed.

5 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Recordings Of Missa Solemnis Ever.......2001-12-23

Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe produced yet another vibrant recording of Beethoven's music with this critically acclaimed version of "Missa Solemnis". This is an excellent blend of period instrument practice informing contemporary playing, as evidenced in their successful collaboration with the entire Beethoven Symphony cycle, also recorded for Teldec. Harnoncourt opts for brisk tempi, yet never rushes his excellent soloists, whose singing is as superb as the COE's playing. Once more Teldec's engineers have done a splendid job recording this performance. This remains as valid an interpretation of Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" as Sir Colin Davis' 1960's account which is available on Philips.

5 out of 5 stars This is the best "Missa Solemnis" recording........1999-08-04

"Missa Solemnis" was the greatest choral work ever composed by Beethoven.Although it may not really sound like a solemn mass,this is a powerful,yet still a religious mass.Harnoncourt does his perfect job executing this mass along with great interpretation from the singers and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.This recording had fulfil Beethoven's hope of"aweken religious feelings among the singers as well as listeners and to ensure this religious feelings lasted in their lifetime".This is a mandatory record for all fans of Beethoven.

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