Mass in B minor BWV 232 - conducted by Otto Klemperer

V-1	J.S. Bach: Choruses from Bach's Mass in B Minor
Choruses from Mass in B minor BWV 232
Otto Klemperer
Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus (Chorus Master: John McCarmy)
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Testament		Dec 1961	CD / TT: 77:40
Choruses from Mass BWV 232. Unpublished recording. Including 10'56" of rehearsals. Recorded at Kingsway Hall, London. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

V-2	Bach: Mass in B minor
Otto Klemperer
BBC Chorus (Chorus Master: Peter Gellhorn) / New Philharmonia Orchestra
Soprano: Agnes Giebel; Mezzo-soprano: Janet Baker; Tenor: Nicolai Gedda; Baritone [No. 18]: Hermann Prey; Bass [No. 10]: Franz Crass
EMI Classics		Oct-Nov 1967	2-CD / TT: 135:40
Recorded at Kingsway Hall (or Royal Festival Hall), London. Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.com

Klemperer’s Bach Mass in B-minor

Kar-Ming Chong wrote (December 12, 1999):
I bought this disc last Friday evening - Bach - Choruses from Mass in B-minor - Klemperer/Philharmonic Orc & Chorus - Testament and found it to be a really fine performance of the chorus bits. This recording is recorded in 1961 (never completed - only the chorus sections are recorded) and is different from the completed Mass in B-minor which he recorded later with EMI (1964?) - I haven't heard of this one. Can anyone fill me in on this recording?

As always, Klemperer's chorus group (Philharmonia) manage to convey the grandeur and majestic of the piece. Share similar characteristic of Klemperer's recordings in other choral works - Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Bach St Matthew Passion (BWV 244). One gripe though: Klemperer did not record the "Cum Sanctu Spiritus" on this Testament recording. Oh, well....

Ulvi Yurtsever wrote (December 21, 1999):
[To Kar-Ming Chong] This is probably a good thing, because his EMI Sanctu Spiritus plods along like a brontosaurus on walking sticks...(it's not just the tempo, his chorus sounds like it includes most of the population of London, although it must have been just the listeners of BBC as it's called the "BBC chorus").

But I guess there must be fair amount of good stuff in the recording since I kept it all this time (along with his St. Matthew (BWV 244)).

MBM Agnus Dei Singer

Sw Anandgyan wrote (May 2, 2005):
I'm listening to the Mass in B minor under the govern of Klemperer.

I would like a more knowledgeable person to confirm who is singing the Agnus Dei solo; is it Agnes Giebel or Dame Janet Baker?

It is the alto which means it is Janet Baker.

Right?

- thanks -

P.S. Happy with the MBM Scherchen II on MCA Classics too!

Otto Klemperer: Short Biography | Philharmonia Orchestra | Recordings | BWV 232 – Klemperer | BWV 244 - Klemperer

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Last update: ýFebruary 10, 2008 ý09:20:07