Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
KHCD-2011-085 (STEREO) – Psalm Settings by Mendelssohn & Vivaldi – Mendelssohn
Psalm 42 – Wie der Hirsch schreit, Op. 42; Psalm 95 – Kommt, lasst uns anbeten, Op. 46; Vivaldi: Psalm 109: Dixit Dominus, RV 594 – Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon – Michel Corboz, conductor – The Mendelssohn psalm settings are the fruit of a particularly happy and productive period in his life, the years 1837-8. Mendelssohn had married in March 1837, and during his wedding journey through the Rhineland and the Black Forest, he composed the Psalm 42 setting, dedicated to his wife, Cécile. The favorable reception of the first performances of this work led him to compose a second setting, Psalm 95, for tenor soloist, chorus anf orchestra. Both are sweetly performed by the Gulbenkian Foundation Chorus and Orchestra, from a near-mint Erato LP. The Vivaldi Psalm 109, Dixit Dominus, is composed for two choruses and two orchestras, and strikes a balance and unity in spite of the varying keys, tempi, and instrumentation found in the ten-movement work. The Gulbenkian Foundation forces join again to perform this monumental setting, transcribed from a Musical Heritage Society 2-LP set, licensed by Erato. Click here for an MP3 sample.
More have been posted on Klassic Haus Restorations for November 2011 – check out the new titles on the Home Page – Cheers – Curt