Stars: The Neubeuern Choral Society, Jose Montes Baquer, Enoch Zu Guttenberg

Summary: A performance of one of the greatest choral works ever composed.

One of the most famous composers of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach's symmetrical yet intricate notation defined the Baroque style. The genius composer, like many others, wrote religious choral music as well as symphonies and concertos. His MASS IN B MINOR is one of Bach's most acclaimed. A work which he toiled at almost up until his death, it is often said to reflect his unique spirit. This performance, conducted by Enoch zu Guttenberg and performed by the Neubeuern Choral Society, was filmed at Bavaria's breathtaking pilgrimage church, Steingaden Abbey.

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Completed just a year before the end of the composer's life, Bach saw his great Latin Mass in B Minor (1749) as concluding his vast body of work. Indeed, combining new music with material from previous cantatas spanning over two decades, musicologist Philipp Spitta noted, "should all of Bach's compositions become lost, the Mass in B Minor alone would for all times give testimony of a man as if with the force of divine revelation". This performance is very much part of a living musical tradition, as the Neubeuern Choral Society was founded by conductor Enoch zu Guttenberg in 1967, developing a local century-old Bavarian musical culture into a choir of international repute. Together with the Orchester der Klangverwaltung and the five international vocal soloists these forces seem almost to fill the small church in which the performance is given. Perhaps inspired by the setting, this is a beautiful, and where necessary rousing, account, Guttenberg enthusiastically conducting even with one arm in a sling. The talented, comparatively youthful soloists complement each other well; tenor Deon van der Walt and soprano Anna Korondi are especially notable.

On the DVD: The absence of texts either in subtitle form or the booklet is a serious drawback. There's nothing remotely approaching a special feature, but the anamorphically enhanced 16:9 picture is very strong compared to many older classical music transfers. The sound cleanly captures the church acoustic. --Gary S Dalkin

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1999
Release Date:	November 6, 2000
Runtime:	109 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	100 116
Keywords:	Music, High, Society, Wide, Screen, Mass, Minor, Bach, Classical, Choral, Vocal, Arts, B, Bwv, Bach's, Neubeuern
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts