The Danish National Vocal Ensemble is the elite choir of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR). Comprised of eighteen professional soloist, the ensemble is internationally known for its pure, transparent Nordic sound with a strong personal mode of expression. Since 2014, the principal conductor of the ensemble has been Marcus Creed. The Danish National Vocal Ensemble presents the whole spectrum of choral music – from Medieval and Renaissance music through Romantic classics to brand new works by young composing talents. The beauty of their a cappella performances are now captured in first-rate fidelity on their album, The Secret Mass, CHORAL WORKS BY FRANK MARTIN AND BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ. The album presents: Frank Martin’s Mass for two four-part choirs and Songs of Ariel as well as Bohuslav Martinů’s Four Songs of the Virgin Mary and Romance from the Dandelions. The album totals fifteen tracks. The ensemble sings wonderfully, each section comes through clearly and the soloist are top notch. The text and harmony are adventurous and compelling. The overall flow of the two composers together make for an excellent listen, both approached the setting of the secular choral works with grace and style. The text comes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, in the case of Martin, and Czech Republic folk-songs from MARTINŮ. The music is splendid, and the singing is invigorating, focused and delivers the challenging music with ease and musicality that will reward the listener upon each listen. That’s the short of it!
The Secret Mass, CHORAL WORKS BY FRANK MARTIN AND BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ
Frank Martin Mass for two four-part choirs ................................................ 27:19
1. Kyrie ............................................................................................................... 05:09
2. Gloria ............................................................................................................ 06:08
3. Credo ............................................................................................................ 06:10
4. Sanctus ......................................................................................................... 04:50
5. Agnus Dei ..................................................................................................... 05:00
Bohuslav Martinů Four Songs of the Virgin Mary ....................................... 12:13
6. The Annunciation ........................................................................................... 01:59
7. A Dream ........................................................................................................ 02:05
8. Our Lady’s Breakfast .................................................................................... 03:22
9. The Virgin Mary’s Picture .............................................................................. 04:36
Frank Martin Songs of Ariel ............................................................................ 11:44
10. Come unto these yellow sands ..................................................................... 01:34
11. Full fathom five (Lauritz Jakob Thomsen, baritone solo) ............................... 03:30
12. Before you can say “come and go” .............................................................. 04:26
13. You are three men of sin (Hanna-Maria Strand, alto solo) ............................. 01:11
14. Where the bee sucks, there suck I ................................................................ 01:02
Bohuslav Martinů Romance from the Dandelions ...................................... 12:42
15. Romance from the Dandelions (Klaudia Kidon, soprano solo;
Emil Lykke, tenor solo; Daniel Åberg, military drum) ..................................... 12:42
Soprano
Jihye Kim
Christine Nonbo Andersen
Malene Nordtorp
Klaudia Kidon
Astrid Kastensson Navarro-Alonso
Camilla Toldi Bugge
(track 1-5, 10-14)
Alto
Rikke Lender
Hanna-Maria Strand
Linnéa Lomholt
Tobias Nilsson
Rebecca Forsberg Svendsen
(track 1-5, 10-14)
Lone Selchau
(track 1-5, 10-14)
Tenor
Poul Emborg
Emil Lykke
Adam Riis
Lars Pedersen
Adriano Gaglianello
(track 1-5, 10-14)
Palle Skovlund
(track 1-5, 10-14)
Bass
Daniel Åberg
Rasmus Kure Thomsen
Johan Karlström
Lauritz Jakob Thomsen
Piet Larsen
(track 1-5 and 10-14)
Asger Lynge Petersen
(track 10-14)
Release Date: April 6, 2018
OUR Recordings
64 minutes
Creed’s conducting is compelling; the singing is invigorating and the technicality of pitch and clarity is inspiriting.
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