Search - Janet Baker, New Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra :: Mass in B Minor: BBC Legends

This 1972 Bach B minor Mass, live from St. Paul's Cathedral in London, is far superior to Giulini's Sony recording of the piece made two decades later. This earlier performance is still a reading of fervent spirituality, but there's a verve and forward motion sadly missing from the later studio account. The Credo burns with conviction, the choruses throughout are done with a rhythmic lift, and the solo singing ranges from adequate (soprano Jenny Hill) to superb (the great Janet Baker's Agnus Dei will bring tears to your eyes). The male soloists are fine, though John Shirley-Quirk has passing moments of unsteadiness and the throaty Peter Pears, nearing the end of his long career, takes some getting used to as he replaces tonal allure with interpretive acuity. The stereo sound is slightly grainy but almost up to studio standards, and the interesting filler is a 17-minute conversation with Giulini. This set's a must for Giulini's admirers and ranks among the best available versions of the Mass, a worthy complement to those by Klemperer, Shaw, and Jochum among the traditionalists and Leonhardt, Harnoncourt, and Herreweghe among those of the period-performance persuasion. --Dan Davis