Following their highly acclaimed recording of the 16th-century John Taverner, Duncan Ferguson and his Edinburgh choir turn their attention to one of the 19th -century's compositional giants. This sequence of motets among them several little-known gems are a testament to Bruckner's profound Catholic faith and these performances blaze with fire and fervour in the vast cathedral's icy acoustic.
Tota pulchra es, Maria
Aequale I
Zwei Totenlieder: I. O ihr, die ihr heut mit mir zum Grabe geht
Ave Maria
Afferentur regi
Christus factus est
Ecce sacerdos
Virga Jesse
Locus iste
Pange lingua
Jam lucis orto sidere dignare
Aequale II
Libera me in F Minor
Zwei Totenlieder: II. O ihr, die ihr heut mit mir zum Grabe geht
Vexilla regis
Os justi
Inveni David
25th March 2011
“within seconds you are hooked...you are listening to a choir of humans who sing like angels...pitching in with total commitment at every possible dynamic level from fortissimo to the whisper of dulcet prayer...[the tenors] are remarkably healthy; while the basses have the kind of deep vigour mostly associated with Russian voices. What’s in Scotland’s water, vodka?”
5th April 2011
“These motet performances...are thrillingly homogenous, conveying well the unifying purpose of the works, but also the ecstatic quality that pervades the mighty Ecce sacerdos and the quiet affirmation of Locus iste.”
The Arts Desk
16th April 2011
“Ferguson’s singers are beyond reproach; intonation is never less than perfect and the sound made at full stretch is glorious – higher lines piercingly clear thanks to the cathedral’s choristers singing the soprano parts. We also get the two Aequale for three trombones, played here with sombre magnificence. Brilliant.”
8th April 2011
“This performance is just superb. It's the kind of disc you want to turn up to full volume and lose yourself in, whether you're of a religious bent or not. Through their crisp, measured phrases, limpid textures, and their reverent but never syrupy tone, they've captured the simplicity and humility of both texts and music...This is a disc to be revisited and savoured again and again.”
June 2011
****
“There's plenty of drive and commitment to this performance, which adds a sense of spiritual relevance beyond the solely musical...the overall effect is surprisingly uplifting thanks to the clarity and directness of the performance, helped by the cathedral's wonderful acoustic.”
May 2011
“this is Bruckner performed with no holds barred, but instead sung with passionate conviction and raw energy - there is nothing remotely polite about MacBruckner...you cannot but be aware of Bruckner's originality, and command of texture and sonority: can the art of modulation ever have been bettered? To hear this marvellous music given with such urgency and all-out commitment is a remarkable experience.”
July 2011
“The Edinburgh singers perform with a robust though polished fervour. Alto, tenor and bass lines are beyond reproach, while the mixed-sex treble line copes admirably with exposed writing. The recorded sound is first-class, capturing both voices and instruments (including some excellent organ-playing) with an engaging immediacy.”
11th July 2011
“The Edinburgh choristers (a mix of boy trebles and girls) are fearless in confronting Bruckner’s demands...This is an excellent disc. The performances are thrilling and intense and they are captured in an excellent recording that mixes spaciousness and clarity. The contributions of the uncredited organist (Nicholas Wearne?) and the RSAMD trombonists add a splendid sonority to some of the items.”
The Arts Desk
15th April 2011
“There’s not a dud moment here...Ferguson’s singers are beyond reproach; intonation is never less than perfect and the sound made at full stretch is glorious – higher lines piercingly clear thanks to the cathedral’s choristers singing the soprano parts”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Tota pulchra es, Maria
