Beethoven: Mass in C

Many of Sir Colin Davis's finest recordings for LSO Live have focused on choral music and opera. Recent titles have included Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini and Tippett's A Child of Our Time. Beethoven's early Mass in C is written on a less grandiose scale than the later Missa Solemnis yet contains some of the composer's most sublime music for voices. Sir Colin is joined by a perfectly balanced group of singers in Sally Matthews, Sara Mingardo, John Mark Ainsley and Alastair Miles. The release also includes the Prisoners' Chorus from Sir Colin's celebrated recording of Beethoven's Fidelio. "Colin Davis leads a superb quartet of soloists and brings out all the humanity and tenderness of the music with his customary skill. The London Symphony Chorus responds brilliantly ... another winner from LSO Live" --Classic FM Magazine (UK) "High among its merits is the singing of the LSC ... the choral sound has depth and the recorded balance is excellent ... The performance is filled with attention to the words, and also to Beethoven's subtle orchestration. It is a dramatic performance of a dramatic work" --International Record Review (UK) "The quartet of soloists is excellent. And if the opening of the Credo seethes with conviction, Davis understands the fragility of the Agnus Dei: when the music of the Kyrie returns at the end it sounds like a blessing, linking arms with the appended 'Prisoners Chorus' from Fidelio to consecrate a profoundly sacred epilogue" --BBC Music Magazine (UK) "This work has its own beauties and merits, and is a substantial piece well worth getting to know if you don’t already. This rendition by Colin Davis and his Londoners has a lot going for it—impeccable singing, flawless orchestral execution, and nicely done surround sound. I could recommend this as a prime version to almost anyone." --Steven E. Ritter, Fanfare Works on This Recording 1. Mass in C major, Op. 86 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: John Mark Ainsley (Tenor), Alastair Miles (Bass), Sally Matthews (Soprano), ■ Sara Mingardo (Alto) ■ Conductor: Sir Colin Davis ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1807; Vienna, Austria ■ Length: 45 Minutes 32 Secs. ■ Notes: Audio Engineers: Jonathan Stokes; Neil Hutchinson. ■ Audio Producer: James Mallinson. 2. Fidelio, Op. 72: O, welche Lust! by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: John Mark Ainsley (Tenor), Alastair Miles (Bass), Sara Mingardo (Alto), ■ Sally Matthews (Soprano) ■ Conductor: Sir Colin Davis ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1805/1814; Vienna, Austria ■ Length: 8 Minutes 5 Secs. ■ Notes: Audio Engineers: Jonathan Stokes; Neil Hutchinson. ■ Audio Producer: James Mallinson. ■ Composition written: Vienna, Austria (1804). ■ Composition revised: Vienna, Austria (1806). ■ Composition revised: Vienna, Austria (1814).