MAGNIFICAT - 500 YEARS OF SACRED MASTERPIECES (50 CDS)

This unique, limited-edition boxed set offers 50 CDs of the greatest choral masterpieces of the past 500 years, stretching from Renaissance Masses and the glories of the Baroque and Classical eras through to the major works of the Romantic era and the diversity of the 20th and 21st centuries, all in some of the greatest recordings ever committed to disc.

Western art music owes its very existence to the church: harmony and multi-stranded polyphony derive from the work of church musicians working across Europe 500 years ago, seeking either to expiate sins or glorify and magnify the Almighty with praises: hence the title `Magnificat'.

The performances include an array of stellar artists in exceptional - even legendary - recordings from two of classical music's greatest labels, Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. Citing just some: John Eliot Gardiner's definitive Bach B Minor Mass, and St John Passion, famed Monteverdi Vespers and Brahms Requiem readings; Peter Schreier's Award-winning Mozart Requiem; Paul McCreesh's Haydn Creation and Schütz Vespers; Giulini's Rossini Stabat Mater; Solti's incandescent Verdi Requiem and Mahler Symphony No. 8; Christopher Hogwood's incisive period-instrument Messiah; the acclaimed Walton Belshazzar's Feast with Bryn Terfel; Britten's own definitive War Requiem and Bernstein's interpretation of his Chichester Psalms among many others. Sung texts - including a translation into English where appropriate - are included on a special bonus CD

A 160-page booklet offers detailed tracklistings, full artist and production information including details on recording dates and venues and producers. A 4000-word essay by noted choral music writer Andrew Stewart is provided in English, French and German.

CD 1

Renaissance Masterpieces

[1] Allegri: Miserere

[2] Lotti: Crucifixus

[3] Orlande de Lassus: Timnor et tremor

[4] Josquin des Prez: Ave Maria

[5] Palestrina: Stabat Mater

[6] Victoria: Salve Regina

[7] Byrd: Ave verum corpus

[8]-[9] Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah I & II

[10] Spem in alium

The Sixteen / Harry Christophers [1]-[4], [7]

Gabrieli Consort / Paul McCreesh [5], [6]

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury [8]-[10]

CD 2

[1]-[5] Ockeghem: Requiem

[6]-[7] Josquin des Prez: Somine Jesu Christe * Ave verum corpus

[8]-[13] Palestrina: Missa Papae marcelli

The Clerks' Group / Edward Wickham [1]-[7]

The Choir of Westminster Abbey / Simon Preston [8]-[13]

CD 3

William Byrd

[1] Fantasia in D minor*

[2]-[6] Mass for four voices

[7] Voluntary a 3*

[8]-[12] Mass for three voices

[13] Fantasia in C major*

[14]-[18] Mass for five voices

Patrick Russell organ*

The Cardinall's Musick / Andrew Carwood

CD 4

Victoria

Officium defunctorum (1605)

[1] Taedet animam meam

[2]-[17] Missa pro defunctis

[18] Motectum: Versa est in luctum

[19] Absolutio: Libera me, Domine

Gabrieli Consort / Paul McCreesh

CD 5 & 6

Monteverdi

Vespro della Beata Vergine (1612)

CD 5 + CD 6 [1]-[26]

Monoyios / Pennicchi / Chance /

Tucker / Robson / Naglia /Terfel / Miles

The Monteverdi Choir

The London Oratory Junior Choir

His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts

The English Baroque Soloists

John Eliot Gardiner

Pergolesi: Stabat Mater

CD 6 [27-[38]

Barbara Bonney / Andreas Scholl

Les Talens Lyriques

Christophe Rousset

CD 7

Schütz

Christmas Vespers

as it might have been celebrated at the Court of Dresden c. 1664

Charles Daniels

Boys' Choir and Congregational Choir of Roskilde Cathedral

Gabrieli Consort and Players / Paul McCreesh

CD 8

Charpentier

[1]-[10] Te Deum

[11] Nuit from In navitatem Domini canticum

[12]-[18] Messe de minuit

Massis / Kozena / Huchet / Henckens / Smythe / Bindi

Les Musiciens du Louvre

Marc Minkowski

CD 9

Purcell

[1]-[13] Hail, bright Cecilia!

[14] Remember not, Lord, our offences

[15] O God, thou art my God

[16]-[22] Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary

Gabrieli Consort & Players / Paul McCreesh [[1]-[13]

The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford / Simon Preston [14], [15]

Baroque Brass of London / Winchester Cathedral Choir / David Hill [16]-[22]

CD 10

Vivaldi

[1]-[12] Gloria in D major, RV 589*

[13]-[15] Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630**

J. S. Bach

[16]-[27] Magnificat in D major, BWV 243

Kirkby / Nelson / Watkinson /

The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford /

The Acdemy of ancient Music / Simon Preston* / Christopher Hogwood** [1]-[15]

Bonney / Remmert / Trost / Bär /

RIAS Kammerchor / Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach / Peter Schreier [16]-[27]

CD 11

J. S. Bach

[1]-[4] Cantata BWV 106 Gottes Zeir is die allerbeste Zeit "Actus tragicus"

[5] Motet BWV 118/231 O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens Licht

[6]-[12] Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

[13]-[22] Cantata BWV 147 Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben

Holton / Chance / Rolfe Johnson / Varcoe

The Monteverdi Choir / The English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner

CD 12 & 13

J. S. Bach

Matthäus-Passion

Chum / Müller-Brachmann / Landshamer / Chappuis /

Schmitt / Quasthoff / Hager

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Tölzer Knabenchor /

Gewandhausorchester / Riccardo Chailly

CD 14 & 15

J. S. Bach

Johannes-Passion

Rolfe Johnson / Varcoe / Hauptmann

The Monteverdi Choir / The English Baroque Soloists /

John Eliot Gardiner

CD 16 & 17

J. S. Bach

Mass in B minor

The Monteverdi: Choir / The English Baroque Soloists /

John Eliot Gardiner

CD 18 & 19

Handel

Israel in Egypt

Coronation Anthems: Zadok the Priest * The King Shall Rejoice

The Monteverdi Choir / The English Baroque Soloists /

John Eliot Gardiner

CD 20 & 21

Handel

Messiah

Nelson / Kirkby / Watkinson / Elliott / Thomas

The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

The Acdemy of Ancient Music / Christopher Hogwood

CD 22

Mozart

[1]-[12] Mass in C minor, K427

[13]-[18] Mass in C, K417 "Coronation"

The Choir of Winchester Catherdal

Winchester College Quiristers

The Academy of Ancient Music

Christopher Hogwood

CD 23

Mozart

[1]-[14] Requiem, K626 (compl. Süßmayr)

[15] Ave verum corpus, K618

McNair / Watkinson / Araiza / Lloyd

Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Chorus

Sir Neville Marriner

Rundfunkchor Leipzig / Staatskapelle Dresden / Peter Schreier [15]

CD 24

Haydn

[1]-[11] Missa in angustiis, Hob.XXII: 11 "Nelson Mass"

[12]-[14] Te Deum, Hob.XXIIIc

Lott / Watkinson / Maldwyn Davies / Wilson Johnson

The English Concert and Choir / Trevor Pinnock

CD 25 & 26

Haydn

The Creation

Piau / Padmore / Neal Davies /

Chetham's Chamber Choir /

Gabrieli Consort & Players / Paul McCreesh

CD 27

Beethoven

[1]-[5] Missa solemnis

Margiono / Robbin / Kendall / Miles /

The Monteverdi Choir /

The English Baroque Soloists /

John Eliot Gardiner

CD 28

Rossini

[1]-[10] Stabat mater

Ricciarelli / Valentini-Terrani / Gonzalez / Raimondi

Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini

CD 29 & 30

Mendelssohn

Elijah

Terfel / Fleming / Bardon / Ainsley /

Edinburgh Festival Chorus /

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment /

Paul Daniel

CD 31 & 32

Berlioz

L'Enfance du Christ

Sara la baigneuse

Hélène

La Belle Voyageuse

Quartetto e coro dei maggi

Chant sacré

Graham / Le Roux / Ainsley /

Choeur et Orchestre symphonique de Montréal /

Charles Dutoit

CD 33

Schubert

[1]-[6] Mass in G major, D167

[7] Psalm 23, D706

Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor

Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Claudio Abbado

Bruckner

[8]-[12] Te Deum

[13] Locus iste

[14] Ave Maria

[15] Virga Jesse

[16] Ecce sacerdos magnus

[17] Os justi

[18] Christus factus est pro nobis

Chor der Deutschen Oper, Berlin /

Chor der Bayerischen Rundfunks /

Berliner Philharmoniker / Eugen Jochum

CD 34

Brahms

[1]-[7] Ein deutsches Requiem

Charlotte Margiono / Rodney Gilfry

The Monteverdi Choir

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique /

John Eliot Gardiner

CD 35 & 36

Verdi

Requiem

CD 35 + CD 36 [1]-[9]

Quattro pessi sacri*

CD 36 [10]-[13]

Sutherland / Horne / Pavarotti / Talvela

Wiener Staatsopernchor /

Wiener Philharmoniker

Chicago Symphony Chorus & Orchestra*

CD 37

Fauré

[1]-[7] Requiem

Duruflé

[8]-[16] Requiem

Cecilia Bartoli / Bryn Terfel

Coro e Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia

Myung-Whun Chung

CD 38

Stainer

[1]-[18] The Crucifixion

Howells

[19] Take him, earth, for cherishing*

Richard Lewis / Owen Brannigan

The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge / George Guest

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge / Stephen Cleobury*

CD 39 & 40

Walton

CD 39 [1]-[10] Belshazzar's Feast

Vryn Terfel / Waynflete Singers

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Andrew Litton

Elgar

[11]-[15] The Dream of Gerontius - Part 1

CD 40 [1]-[8] The Dream of Gerontius - Part 2

Peter Pears / Yvonne Minton / John Shirley-Quirk

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge

London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Benjamin Britten

Parry

[9] I was glad

[10] Jerusalem

Waynflete Singers / Winchester Cathedral Choir

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / David Hill

CD 41

Mahler

[1]-[16] Symphony No.8 in E flat major "Symphony of a Thousand"

Harper / Popp / Auger / Minton / Watts / Kollo / Shirley-Quirk / Talvela

Wiener Staatsopernchor / Wiener Singverein /

Wiener Sängerknaben / Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Sir Georg Solti

CD 42

Janácek

[1]-[8] Glagolitic Mass

Kubiak / Collins / Tear / Schöne

Brighton Festival Chorus

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Rudolf Kempe

Kodály

[9]-[16] Missa brevis

Gale / Le Sage / Francis / Hodgson / Caley / Rippon

Brigton Festival Chorus / Laszló Heltay

CD 43

Rachmaninov

[1]-[15] Vespers, op.37

Olga Borodina / Vladimir Moztowoy

St Petersburg Chamber Choir / Nikolai Korniev

CD 44

Stravinsky

[1]-[3]Symphony of Psalms

Rundfunkchor Berlin / Berliner Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez

[4]-[8] Mass

Trinity Boys Choir / English Bach Festival Chorus

Members of the English Bach Festival Orchestra

Bernstein

[9]-[11] Chichester Psalms

Wiener Jeunesse-Chor / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Leonard Bernstein

CD 45

Orff

[1]-[25] Carmina Burana

Christiane Oelze / David Kuebler / Simon Keenlyside

Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin / Knabenchor Berlin

Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Christian Thielemann

CD 46

Poulenc

[1]-[6] Gloria

[7] Litanies à la Vierge Noire

[8]-[19] Stabat Mater

Françoise Pollet

Choeur de Radio France / Maîtrise de Radio France

Orchestre National de France / Charles Dutoit

CD 47

Britten

[1]-[19] War Requiem

Galina Vishnevskaya / Peter Pears /

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / The Bach Choir &

London Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Highgate School Choir

Melos Ensemble / London Symphony Orchestra

Benjamin Britten

CD 48

Tippett

[1]-[20] A Child of Our Time

Norman / Baker /Cassilly / Shirley-Quirk

BBC Singers / BBC Choral Society

BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sir Colin Davis

CD 49

Eric Whitacre

Light and Gold

CD 50

[1]-[2] Pärt: De produndis * The Woman with the Alabaster Box

[3] Górecki: Totus tuus

[4] Ligeti: Lux aeterna

[5] Messiaen: O sacrum convivium!

[6]-[9] Duruflé: Quatre Motets

[10]-[11] Tavener: The Lamb * Song for Athene

[12]-[14] Barber: God's Grandeur * Heaven-Haven * Agnus Dei