Jonathan Lemalu Stephen Cleobury Choir of King039s College Cambridge - Vivaldi Gloria in D RV589 Dixit Dominus in D RV594 and Magnificat in G Minor RV610 (29 tracks) +Album Reviews

Stellar Chorale Work on Vivaldi's Sacred Masterworks

Ed Uyeshima | San Francisco, CA USA | 07/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in 2001 and released the following year, this is a lovely, clean recording of Vivaldi's three most famous sacred works for choral ensembles. The Cambridge's Choir of King's College, alongside the Academy of Ancient Music led by Stephen Cleobury, moves through each vital movement with appropriate fluidity and passion. With its familiar grandiose opening, the "Gloria" makes a strong impression here simply because the choir and orchestra perform it with enthusiasm and energy capturing the life-affirming spirit of the piece. Countertenor Michael Chance is a particular standout on his two mellifluous solos, "Domine Deus, Agnus Dei" and "Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris" with affecting dramatic shading. The "Dixit Dominus" is equally enthralling with particular harmonic splendor provided by sopranos Sarah Fox and Deborah Norman on "Virgam Virtutis tuae" and tenor James Gilchrist and bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu on "Dominus a dextris tuis".

The last vocal work here is the latest of several adaptations Vivaldi made of the "Magnificat" which he had originally written for the Pietà, probably during the early 18th century. The arias are sung with expressive character with the best movements provided by Fox and Norman in their assured approach on the cadenza in their "Esurientes" and a brief trio by Norman, Chance and Lemalu on "Sicut locutus est". The singing of the five soloists couldn't be more accomplished, but it's the spirited grandeur of the choir that most pervasively captures Vivaldi's irrepressible spirit. This recording is one to treasure as the vocal and instrumental ensembles meld perfectly. If Vivaldi's religious music brings you enjoyment, I also recommend Fabio Biondi's 2004 release, "Vivaldi: Motets", which features stunning vocal work from soprano Patrizia Ciofi and his 2002 collaboration with equally stellar work from countertenor David Daniels on "Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Nisi Dominus, Longe Mala". All three recordings are strongly recommended."

Choral masterpiece

Southern Man | Raleigh, NC | 02/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Vivaldi blows my mind. The more I'm exposed to his music, the more I'm amazed with the consistent brilliance of his compositions. Definitely my favorite Baroque composer. The fact that his music was effectively "lost" until the 1930s is staggering.

I love this version of Gloria (RV589). The singing is exquisite throughout and the playing of the Academy of Ancient Music is excellent. The recorded sound is very lush. Close your eyes and this music will transport you.

I can recommend this CD without hesitation just for Gloria. Dixit Dominus is almost as good. As for Magnificat, the performance is fine, it's just not as musically interesting as the other works, at least not to these ears.

Also, the booklet includes the words in Latin (as sung) and English - always a good thing."

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 03/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A VIBRANT AND VIGOROUS VIVALDI SUNG WITH VITALITY BY THE KING'S COLLEGE CHOIR AND SELECTED SOLOISTS!

Although an ordained priest, Antonio Vivaldi(1678-1741) made his musical reputation largely outside the church. Besides his 500-odd concertos and 45 operas, his surviving corpus of sacred vocal music, amounting to just over fifty works, appears slim.

Vivaldi's sacred music may be divided into works with a liturgical text and precise function, such as the "GLORIA", and occasional, non-liturgical pieces. All three works on this recording are conceived on a grand scale, and would have graced important feast days in the Church calendar. The well known Gloria has eleven movements(not the same number on all recordings) including choruses and two soprano solos and one alto solo. It opens with an energetic opening chorus and closes at the other end of the emotional spectrum with a beautiful meditative alto solo "Domine Deus, Agnus Dei"; a triumph of musical economy as far removed from the convoluted vocal style of his operas as Vivaldi ever ventured. However, it is his theatrical flare that really sets the work alight!

The "DIXIT DOMINUS" is the grandest of the settings recorded here and one of Vivaldi's masterpieces. It belongs to a group of works which may have been written for the convent church of San Lorenzo in Venice. These 10 pieces were unusually ambitious: Vivaldi often calls for double choir and double orchestra, and he is keen to impress with the virtuosity of the solos and the contrapuntal ingenuity of the choruses.

The uniqueness of the "MAGNIFICAT" with its nine movements is a work more concise than the previous two,but it shares with them the highly successful method of involving the Orchestra in the graphic illustration of the text.

The performance by the Choir of King's College is first rate and the soloists are of the highest quality. They are: Sarah Fox and Deborah Norman,sopranos-Michael Chance,countertenor-James Gilchrist,tenor-Jonathan Lemalu,bass, who all sing with the skill and finesee that is expected from experienced singers of this genre.

The Choir displays beautifully and expressively molded phrases, mega text sensitivity and performs in a stylistically correct manner. The soaring voices of the trebles paired with the warm sound of the strings combined with very clear articulation from the winds, particularly the trumpet and oboe, comes together with glorious sonority!. This Choir seldom fails to please."

Gloria in D is NOT in D on this recording

Pikay | California | 11/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a violinist who bought this recording in preparation for playing "Gloria in D" with a local church group near Christmas. This recording is exquisitely beautiful... but GLORIA in D is NOT in D on this CD. I'm having to transpose down half a step on the fly to play with this recording, and am going to have to look for another recording that is true to the original key. If you're looking for a really lovely recording of this piece just to listen to and enjoy, this may be the CD for you... but if you're a musician looking for a piece you can practice with, look elsewhere. :-)"

Very high quality!

J. Bell | Los Angeles | 01/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having performed Vivaldi's Gloria with a choir at Carnegie Hall, and several other times, I would say this recording of it is superb. Being an alto, I am impressed to be able to say you can actually HEAR the altos in the recording, and the sopranos, soft and sweet, don't shout over them.

My only criticism, which is minor, is that the sixth movement (Domine Fili) is taken a bit quickly. However, the light ebb and flow keeps it from feeling too much like a day at the races. (You know what I mean if you've heard the piece).

The soloists have depth and energy, the choir is well balanced, and the instruments are perfection. The other works included in the CD are also excellent."

Search - Jonathan Lemalu, Stephen Cleobury, Choir of King's College - Cambridge :: Vivaldi: Gloria in D (RV589), Dixit Dominus in D (RV594), and Magnificat in G Minor (RV610)

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