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Posted by Tony Haywood
on October 22, 2009, 3:21 pm, in reply to "http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Oct09/Bernstein_Mass_855962223.htm"
89.242.172.70
Not wishing to fuel anything, but I would just say that I have been a fan of this piece for years, and like many, have regarded Bernstein's original recording as standard reference. I was severely disappointed in the Kent Nagano version on Harmonia Mundi (Jerry Hadley plus other problems)and was all set to get the relatively well received new Kristjan Jarvi until I was reliably informed by Nigel Simeone (who is preparing a book on Bernstein's theatre music) to wait a while for 'something rather special on Naxos'. Now it's here, I have to agree that, all things considered, it does finally outclass the Bernstein in most important respects - in particular, the role of the Celebrant, which is here sensational, and the recording quality, which is vastly superior to the old CBS sound and allows the many-layered textures to flow from the speakers.
Alsop does a much-maligned piece proud, and I agree that this is likely to be the new reference for some years.
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