Search - Various Artists, Paul Halley, Gaudeamus :: Sacred Feast

Best singing, Best music, Best recording: 3 times 5 Stars

Dan Fee | Berkeley, CA USA | 11/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is an excellent example of what a real chorus sounds like in a suitable acoustic space. No gimmicks or tricks, just the real deal, sonically. The choral group, Gaudeamus, is singing very well with true intonation, precision, accuracy. Most of all, these folks seem to actually like the music. The selections are a sort from across major streams of choral writing in western classical; but the delicacy of tone is as awesome here as the larger, massed choral effects. It is of course not easy to record music successfully. If the microphones are too close, you lose the sense of atmosphere and the particular acoustic that is inseparable from live music in the real world. If the microphones are too distant, all you get is the hall sound at the expense of the music. This recording earns high marks for managing everything just right. This disc actually is one of my top, all-time choral favorites. The other two are: Eric Whitacre's a capella choral music (sung by the Brigham Young University Singers); and A Rose in Winter by the Dale Warland Singers. In any case, get this for wonderful singing, and excellent sound. It will show off your system, too. Highly recommended."