Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Andrea L Brown, Maria Bernius, Monica Groop, Werner Güra, Michael Volle, Kammerchor Stuttgart
Orchestra: Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Conductor: Frieder Bernius
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Carus
Catalogue: CAR83217
Release: 2008
Size: 306 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Der 95 Psalm, Op. 46
01. I. Kommt, lasst uns anbeten
02. II. Kommet herzu
03. III. Denn in seiner Hand
04. IV. Denn sein ist das Meer
05. V. Heute, so ihr seine Stimme höret
Ach Gott, Vom Himmel sieh darein, MWV A 12
06. I. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein
07. II. Recitativo “Barmherzig und gnädig ist der Herr”
08. III. Aria “Das Silber durchs Feuer”
09. IV. Choral “Das wollst du, Gott”
10. Psalm 5, MWV B 31
11. Defend me, Lord from shame, MWV B 32
12. Cantique pour l’Eglise Wallonne de Francfort, MWV B 56
Hymne für eine Altstimme mit Chor und Orchester, Op. 96
13. I. Lass, o Herr, mich
14. II. Deines Kind’s Gebet erhöre
15. III. Herr, wir trau’n auf deine Güte
16. IIIa. Lasst sein heilig Lob uns singen
17. Worauf ist doch der Heiden Tun gestellt, MWV B 34 “Psalm 2”
18. Dem Herrn der Erdkreis zusteht, MWV B 34 “Psalm 24”
19. Auf dich setz ich, Herr, mein Vertrauen, MWV B 39 “Psalm 31”
20. Wer in des allerhöchsten Mut, MWV B 40 “Psalm 91”
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, Op. 91 “Psalm 98”
21. I. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
22. II. Der Herr lässt sein Heil verkünden
23. III. Jauchzet dem Herrn
24. IV. Es wird den Erdkreis richten
25. Hark! the herald angels sing
26. Gott als ein König gwaltiglich regiert, MWV B 36 “Psalm 93”
27. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, MWV B 37 “Psalm 98”
28. Ihr Völker auf der Erde all, MWV B 38 “Psalm 100”
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, MWV A 20 “Te deum”
29. I. Herr Gott, dich loben wir
30. II. Dein göttlich Macht und Herrlichkeit
31. III. Du König der Ehren Jesu Christ
32. IV. Lass uns im Himmel haben Teil
33. V. Täglich, Herr Gott, dich loben wir
This sensational series of choral works by Mendelssohn continues under the guiding hand of Frieder Bernius. As with the previous releases, which are all still available, this new recording is very highly recommended.
Carus-Verlag’s excellent Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Herr Gott, dich loben wir makes its bow in 2009, the bicentenary of Mendelssohn’s birth. Even a reasonably casual classical music listener might be surprised to learn just how much Mendelssohn they might have gained without really trying, as his symphonic works, the most popular pieces among the Songs without Words and even the oratorio Elijah, are so generally prevalent in Western literature. But things like his choral/orchestral psalm settings, sacred cantatas, and other church music aren’t exactly at the top of the Mendelssohn hit parade, even as they are recorded with some frequency. Perhaps some of these things should be, judging from the fine performances they receive under the care of conductor Frieder Bernius, the Kammerchor Stuttgart, and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen in this collection. This Carus-Verlag disc is subtitled “Church Music IX” and corresponds to a series of CDs that also represent volumes in a comprehensive printed edition Carus-Verlag has undertaken of all of Mendelssohn’s sacred vocal music, still in progress when this volume appeared. No expense has been spared in preparing these recordings — among the soloists one may locate the name of Monica Groop, and she sounds splendid here, as does soprano Andrea Lauren Brown — and the SACD sound as is realistic as the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is tight in their realization of Mendelssohn’s busy orchestral accompaniments.
One need not advance very far into the opening of the chorus of Mendelssohn’s sacred cantata Ach Gott, von Himmel sieh darein to experience the effect of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music on Mendelssohn, with its daring chromaticism and faultless distribution of polyphonic parts among voices. What is more remarkable is not just that Mendelssohn was so influenced by Bach, but that he was able to internalize these techniques so well. It is the larger psalm settings (Nos. 95, 98) and cantatas (Ach Gott, the unique Hymne, Op. 96, and Herr Gott, dich loben wir) that stand out here; the Hymne contains a principal part for alto and this is where Monica Groop’s involvement is particularly noteworthy. There is a scattering of English language material throughout the program, including short, unaccompanied renderings of psalms and the popular Christmas carol “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” The singing on these selections is transparent and beautiful, but even with some English speakers present, the English itself isn’t rendered with much clarity, with too-rounded vowels, soft consonants, and rolled “Rs” abound. However, this will only prove an issue if you are an English singer, and the quality of ensemble is of such a high order that it might not even if you are. However, where Carus-Verlag’s Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Herr Gott, dich loben wir is most likely to make a difference is if you have only a mediocre appreciation of Mendelssohn, then this disc is liable to change that.