Composer: Max Reger
Performer: SWR Vokalensemble
Conductor: Frieder Bernius
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Carus
Catalogue: CAR83288
Release: 2016
Size: 218 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Geistliche Gesange, Op. 110
01. Ia. Mein Odem ist schwach
02. Ib. Fürwahr, Gespött umgibt mich
03. Ic. Sei du selbst mein Bürge bei dir
04. Id. Aber ich weiß, dass mein Erlöser lebt
05. IIa. Ach, Herr, strafe mich nicht
06. IIb. Ich liege und schlafe
07. IIc. Herzlich lieb hab ich dich
08. III. O Tod, wie bitter bist du (I)
09. III. O Tod, wie bitter bist du (II)
10. O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden WoO IV / 13
Max Reger’s large choral motets, op. 110 are great spiritual representations of the human soul – fashioned during the last days of tonality. The spiritual abyss, anxiety and doubt lead to a tonal ordeal, as emotionally-charged counterpoint becomes paralyzed in a dense, complex texture – and suddenly the knots are disentangled in a tenderness of unison phrases hardly to be surpassed, and Reger comes very close to his model, J. S. Bach. In addition to the three choral motets, for this CD the SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, under the direction of Frieder Bernius, also performs Reger’s seldom recorded chorale cantata “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden,” based on the Passion hymn by Paul Gerhardt – a true feast for all friends of choral music.