Robert Schumann, Les Cris de Paris, Geoffroy Jourdain - Missa Sacra

Published Wednesday 20th March 2013
Robert Schumann, Les Cris de Paris, Geoffroy Jourdain - Missa Sacra
Robert Schumann, Les Cris de Paris, Geoffroy Jourdain - Missa Sacra

STYLE: Classical
RATING 6 6 6 6 6 6
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 136979-
LABEL: Aparte AP044
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) knew he was gravely ill when he wrote the 'Missa Sacra (opus 147)' and although it is a wonderful piece it remained almost unknown, probably because of the circumstances behind its composition. It was originally written for choir and orchestra but Schumann re-scored it for choir and organ, and then sent it, under a pseudonym, to an obscure English composition competition. The piece was revealed only after his death at the insistence of his widow Clara and only the "Kyrie" and "Gloria" were performed in Schumann's lifetime. So this rediscovery made by Geoffroy Jourdain and here performed by Les Cris de Paris on period instruments is of special interest. The featured soloist is the talented mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa. The little known 'Missa Sacra' is beautifully orchestrated and is coupled with the a cappella double choir Opus 141 in a very German Romantic programme. This reviewer would not count himself an admirer of German Romanticism but the Missa did get and keep my attention. Comparisons with Mozart's final Mass (as memorably depicted in 'Amadeus') come to mind. Schumann, like Mozart, knew he was dying so could this Missa be his last will and testament? Many can - and do - speculate but if we concentrate on the music we get a powerful and moving setting of the Latin Mass sung very well by Les Cris de Paris. Personally, if the disc stopped there I would not mind (although I am sure that I would have complained about only getting forty minutes of music). The Four Double Choruses of opus 141 do not reach the heights of the Missa. Partly, I am sure, this is down to my poor language skills. My Latin is sufficient to follow a Mass but my German is not good enough to follow the poems set by Schumann and the music did not catch my attention. The Missa deserves a higher rating than I can award to the disc as a whole. If you are keen on Robert Schumann then this is worth looking for but as an introduction to his work it is not the best place to start.

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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