Bach, J S: Mass in B minor, BWV232

The Leipziger Volkszeitung heralded the performance of the B minor Mass given by Thomanerchor Leipzig (St Thomas’s Boys Choir) at the closing concert of the Bachfest 2006 in St Thomas as ‘a new, sounding benchmark – for Bach in and from Leipzig’. The boys were on equally ‘breath-taking form’ when they recorded their highly acclaimed interpretation on CD in the same year. This high-end CD edition includes a comprehensive booklet with extensive notes on the work and its performers. St Thomas’s Boys Choir (St Thomas’s Boys Choir) is accompanied by the Leipziger Barockorchester and the renowned soloists Ute Selbig, Susanne Krumbiegel, Elisabeth Wilke, Martin Petzold, and Gotthold Schwarz. In short, a magnificent recording of the B minor Mass, which is frequently apostrophised as Bach’s ‘opus summum’: the work in which the great cantor of St Thomas takes stock of his artistic lifetime achievement.

Recorded in 1960

Dedicated to one of the composer's most popular works, this release celebrates J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor -- a masterpiece of writing that ranks among the greatest liturgical settings in the history of music.

The composition was born out of the 'Kyrie' and 'Gloria' movements that Bach had originally dedicated to the Elector of Saxony (in the hope of securing an official title at his court). After his eventual move to Dresden, the composer decided to combine these with further, separately composed movements taken from the Ordinary -- namely a setting of the 'Symbolum Nicenum', a Sanctus from 1724 and parodies from earlier pieces that were rearranged as the 'Osanna', 'Benedictus', 'Agnus Dei' and 'Dona nobis pacem'.

From the use of opera techniques, as seen in the varied sequence of choruses and arias, to highly varied instrumentation and styles -- including the French overture arrangement of the Sanctus -- Bach created a monumental work that is rich in both polyphony and virtuosic display. It was a deliberately structured composition, one that differed to his usual practise of writing for an imminent performance and which is far too long for proper liturgical use.

Bach probably never got to hear the great Mass performed in its entirety, but numerous copies of the work dating from the 19th century point to its renaissance more than a century later. Featuring assured solo performances, strong chorus singing as well as meticulous playing by the Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca, this release comprises a worthy addition to the Brilliant Classics' choral library.

Other information:

-The importance of the Bach's B minor Mass is difficult to overestimate: some consider it the greatest, deepest, and most influential classical work of all history, certainly it is the most quintessential work of Bach, a summing up of his creative, human and religious powers, and a source of inspiration, solace and faith of humans of all ages, and ages to come.

- This famous recording, licensed from the Swiss label Arts, is based on the Historically Informed Performance Practice, and presents the best voices in this field: the celebrated Roberta Invernizzi, Lynn Dawson, Gloria Banditelli and the famous German tenor Christoph Prégardien.The Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca conducted by Diego Fasolis let their Mediterranean sun shine on this Catholic liturgical Mass by Nordic protestant Johann Sebastian Bach: an experience of universal power and beauty.

- Comprehensive booklet notes in German, with English translation.

- Complete sung texts and English translation available on www.brilliantclassics.com.