Search - Bernard Fabre-Garrus, A Sei Voci :: Une Messe Imaginaire

Wonderful!

Gracejoy | New York, NY United States | 02/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fabulous recording, and not only because it features works of my favorite Renaissance composer, Josquin Desprez. Also featured are gorgeous pieces by other Renaissance masters, including the most beautiful version of Allegri's "Miserere Mei" I have ever heard; it is a scholarly version, not the standard version one usually hears featuring that soaring high C. I certainly do love the standard version (the recording of St. Paul's Cathedral Choir with Jeremy Budd as the treble soloist is magnificent), but the A Sei Voci version brings a new freshness to the piece that I can't help but to slightly prefer. In particular, the soprano has a lovely tone and sings some soul-stirring melodies above the lower voices. A Sei Voci is obviously a world-class ensemble. The quality of singing is solid throughout and the music itself is beautiful, even haunting at times. The premise behind the selection of music -- each piece culled from a separate work and put toegther to form one mass -- is interesting, and I think they chose wisely. If you like Renaissance choral music and the sound of a small vocal ensemble, add this recording to your collection. I also highly recommend their recording of Josquin Desprez' "Missa de Beata Virgine", which includes the mass as well as a number of lovely motets."