Sounds Sublime = The Essential Collection – The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers, conductor – Coro 16073 (2 CDs), 155:04 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ***1/2:
This is not the type of album I would normally buy—torso excisions do little for me, and this is mainly intended as a large sampler. I am not really interested in a Hallelujah Chorus, or first movement of the Vivaldi Gloria, or just the Pie Jesu from Faure’s Requiem. But what this set does point out is the absolute quality of this ensemble’s work for the Coro label. Their recently recorded Messiah jumped to the top of my list, and hearing the Handel’s Zadok the Priest makes me want to acquire the entire Coronation Anthems.
So perhaps the marketing savvy behind this release is grounded in a master plan. And I can see myself putting this on sometime when I need some quality reading music as there are a lot of standalone pieces included here as well. But unless you are interested in a set of discs of greatest hits—no matter how superbly recorded—I would suggest instead that you start gaining access to any number of the complete releases by this wonderful group. That is what is essential here.
TrackList:
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Magnificat anima mea Dominum
Victoria, Tomás Luis de: Ave Maria a 8
Mozart, Wolfang Amadeus: Ave verum corpus
Scarlatti, Domenico: Iste Confessor
Tallis, Thomas: Spem in alium
Purcell, Henry: Funeral Sentences: Man that is born of a woman
Purcell, Henry: Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts
Handel, George Friedrich: Coronation Anthem: Zadok the Priest
Brahms, Johannes: Ein Deutsches Requiem – Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen
Lotti, Antonio: Crucifixus a 8
Tavener, John: A Hymn to the Mother of God
Teixeira, Antonio: Te Deum – Te gloriosus Apostolorum Chorus
Bernstein, Leonard: The Lark – Spring Song
Daniel-Lesur, Jean Yves: Le Cantique des Cantiques – La voix du bien-aime
Faure, Gabriel: Requiem – Pie Jesu
Poulenc, Francis: Sept Répons des Ténèbres – Una hora
Britten, Benjamin: A Hymn to Saint Columba
Handel, George Friedrich: Israel in Egypt – Moses & the children of Israel
Handel, George Friedrich: Israel in Egypt – I will sing unto the Lord
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Mass in B minor – Quoniam tu solus sanctus
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Mass in B minor – Cum Sancto Spiritu
Handel, George Friedrich: Solomon – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Mozart, Wolfang Amadeus: Vesperae solennes de Confessore – Laudate Dominum
Allegri, Gregorio: Miserere Mei
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da: Missa Papae Marcelli – Kyrie
Padilla, Juan Gutiérrez de: Deus in Adiutorium
Victoria, Tomás Luis de: O Domine Iesu Christe
Sheppard, John: Libera Nos I
Martin, Frank: Mass for Double Choir – Agnus Dei
Tavener, John: The Lamb
Victoria, Tomás Luis de: Versa est in Luctum
Barber, Samuel: Agnus Dei
Britten, Benjamin: Advance Democracy
Handel, George Friedrich: Messiah – Hallelujah
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Cantata 147: Chorale – Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
Vivaldi, Antonio: Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Cantata 50: Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft
— Steven Ritter
