Arvo Pärt - De Profundis (1999) 
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 272 Mb 
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb


Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices, like the Hilliard Ensemble with whom he was associated before settling in America, have given the music of Arvo Part a prominent place in their repertoire. Hillier has also written a book on Part – from which his notes accompanying this CD are mostly drawn (The Music of Arvo Part; OUP: 1997) – and in the collective interview run in last September’s issue (page 14) he described his first encounter with several of Part’s scores, “Something leapt out at me: this was the kind of music I had been waiting to perform”.

All this should point to performances of authority and conviction, but while there is no doubting the authority and sincerity behind Hillier’s interpretations, I can’t review this disc without certain reservations. Mostly, it must be said, these are centred on the very one-dimensional recording which does few favours to the singers and even fewer to the music itself. But the Theatre of Voices do not always convince me that they are totally at ease with either the detail or spirit of the music. Tuning is occasionally suspect; the celebratory opening of the Sanctus in the Missa Sillabica seems strained while some of the overlapping vocal entries in Solfeggio wobble disconcertingly. However, this latter piece also includes some of the most sublimely beautiful music on the disc – perhaps surprisingly so since it dates from 1964, long before Part had abandoned serialism and developed his characteristic, and immensely popular, ‘tintinnabuli’ style. However, reservations are easily outweighed by the strength of most of these performances. Clearly the singers relish the intensely moving And one of the Pharisees – as well they might since it was composed for them – and their obvious enchantment with the delightful little Cantate Domino is utterly infectious. I also find their performance of the Magnificat Antiphons singularly compelling.

Many of these works are receiving their first performance on disc and all represent a major contemporary composer at his best. That alone should provide more than enough recommendation for a disc which also contains some excellent choral singing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tracklist:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01 - De Profundis (Psalm 129)
02 - Missa Sillabica - I. Kyrie
03 - Missa Sillabica - II. Gloria
04 - Missa Sillabica - III. Credo
05 - Missa Sillabica - IV. Sanctus
06 - Missa Sillabica - V. Agnus Dei
07 - Missa Sillabica - VI. Ite missa est
08 - Solfeggio
09 - 'And one of the Pharisees'
10 - Cantate Domino (Psalm 95)
11 - Summa (Credo)
12 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - I. O Weisheit
13 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - II. O Adonai
14 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - III. O Spross
15 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - IV. O Schlussel
16 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - V. O Morgenstern
17 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - VI. O Konig
18 - Seven Magnificat Antiphons - VII. O Immanuel
19 - The Beatitudes
20 - Magnificat

*1996, 1999 Harmonia Mundi USA | HMU 907182


Personnel:
Theatre of Voices - Choral ensemble
Paul Hillier - director
Christopher Bowers-Broadbent - Organ
Dan Kennedy - percussion


Enjoy and Sharing, Thanks!