Composer: Marcel Dupré
Performer: Mary Preston
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8554379
Release: 2000
Size: 212 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Le chemin de la croix (The Stations of the Cross), Op. 29
01. I. Jesus is Condemned to Death
02. II. Jesus Receives His Cross
03. III. Jesus Falls the First Time
04. IV. Jesus Meets His Mother
05. V. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
06. VI. Jesus and Veronica
07. VII. Jesus Falls a Second Time
08. VIII. Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem
09. IX. Jesus Falls a Third Time
10. X. Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes
11. XI. Jesus is Nailed on the Cross
12. XII. Jesus Dies Upon the Cross
13. XIII. The Body of Jesus is Taken from the Cross and Laid in Mary’s Bosom
14. XIV. The Body of Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
79 Chorales, Op. 28
15. No. 55: My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
16. No. 56: In Peace and Joy I Depart
17. No. 61: O Innocent Lamb of God
18. No. 62: O Man, Mourn for Thy Many Sins
19. No. 65: Hail to Thee, Blessed Jesus
20. No. 67: Our Father in Heaven
21. No. 73: He that Suffereth God to Guide Him
This is Volume 11 in the Naxos series of Dupré’s complete organ works. Once again, Preston commands the impressive 4-84 Fish organ in the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas. Continuing the pattern established in this series, each disc contains a handful of Chorales (these are chosen from Nos. 55 to 73). The major work, Chemin de la Croix-one of the composer’s favorites-is performed with musicianship and understanding. It was first done in 1931 in Brussels, a partly planned ‘improvisation’ to follow the reading of Stations of the Cross by Paul Claudel. The separate pieces are connected through the use of rhythmic and melodic leitmotifs into a remarkably unified work. Preston captures the mood of the crowd (Station 1), the gentleness of Station 6 (‘Jesus and Veronica’), and the oppressive weight conveyed in Stations 3,7,9-Christ struggling under the Cross. Her tempos are rather slow for the big, loud movements; but that doesn’t’ harm the musical impact. The instrument packs plenty of punch for the dramatic moments, and the quiet sections are often extremely soft. This is as rewarding an interpretation as I have heard. If the hall lacks the reverberation of a cathedral, the balance and sonority of the organ compensate for it.