Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum and Charivari Agréable come together for the first time in vividly communicative interpretations of three of Mozart's sacred masterpieces. The forces are very much as Mozart intended - a period orchestra, an all-male chorus and soloists (including 2009 BBC Chorister Of The Year Laurence Kilsby) drawn from the choir. Under Benjamin Nicholas's spirited direction these performances bristle with energy and the invigorating freshness of youth. We open with the "Coronation Mass in C" (K317) which was first performed at Salzburg Cathedral on Easter Sunday, 1779 before being borrowed for the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia in 1791, an event which gave the Mass its well-known title. Next is one of Mozart's best loved sacred works: "Ave Verum Corpus" (K618) and here we get as good a performance as we could wish before concluding with "Vesperae Solemnes De Confessore" (K339). The singing throughout is admirable and although there are one or two points at which we may have preferred a little more depth the benefit of not allowing the excellent Charivari Agréable from upsetting the careful balance between voice and instrument makes it worthwhile. The recording took place in Merton College Chapel, Oxford and Producer Paul Baxter has made it a bright and vivid listening experience. Admirers of Mozart's sacred music may already possess recordings of these three works but the quality on offer here is such that we have no hesitation in recommending this CD, even if it duplicates something already in your collection.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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