BACH: Mass in B minor - Dunedin Consort & Players (2 Hybrid SACDS)

Breitkopf & Härtel Edition, edited by J. Rifkin (2006)

Bach's Mass in B minor is undoubtedly his most spectacular choral work and the Dunedin Consort's soloist-led performance enables a level of clarity and expression that is not traditionally a feature of modern choral performance.

The Dunedin Consort's recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor revisits the spectacular individual virtuosity that made the Messiah recording so successful. This is the premiere recording of the work in the new Breitkopf edition, edited by Joshua Rifkin, a leading thinker in authentic period performance, who fully endorses John Butt's interpretation.

Bach's Mass capitalizes on the very essence of the group's skills: skilled virtuosic choral performance coupled with outstanding, characterful solo singing. Bach's Mass in B minor is undoubtedly his most spectacular choral work and the Dunedin Consort's single-voice performance enables a level of clarity and expression that is not traditionally a feature of modern choral performance. This recording features several soloists from the acclaimed recording of Bach's Matthew Passion, which was named BBC Music Magazine's Benchmark Recording.

No performance could better justify small-scale Bach than this convincing marriage of scholarship and inspiration. - BBC Music Magazine