Rheinische Kantorei Archive

Chorale Masses & Sacred Concertos – Rheinische Kantorei, Hermann Max – MDG 

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 30, 2017 | Classical Reissue Reviews

SCHEIN, BERNHARDT, ZACHOW, FISCHER: Chorale Masses & Sacred Concertos – Rheinische Kantorei, Hermann Max – MDG MDG6020169 [distr. by Presto Classical] (9/15/17)  TT: 44:27 Track list below *** 1/2 Excellent performances and a convincing recording Five hundred years ago the Reformation triggered an upsurge in the production of church music, and even today Martin Luther’s  sacred hymns continue to be mainstays in Lutheran religious services. This disc has a lovely collection of masses and concertos from a variety of composers of the period, roughly between the 16th and early 18th century. The works are performed by the Rheinische Kantorei, Hermann Max, conductor. The music on offer in this collection is hauntingly beautiful and well performed. None are mainstays of the popular classical canon, but that doesn’t make them any less compelling. The recording is apparently a re-master, and dates from 1985. I can assure our readers that the recording is not compromised by age. As DG has demonstrated many times, there is a tremendous effort in the recording and production of their product, and the recording here is exemplary. The sound of the chorale and instruments are well positioned in a reverberant space. I thought the sound opened up nicely […]