CD-Charts Position 1

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Mary and Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey

from: Hyperion

Release Date September 29, 2008

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Vierne/Widor/Dupré - Masses and Motets

from: Hyperion

Release Date February 14, 1997
Having sung both the Widor Mass and enjoyed it thoroughly, I decided to buy a recording to prolong the good memories! And this cd certainly does not disappoint... I have to confess to having been somewhat sceptical about Westminster Cathedral Choir's reputation, but this cd really does confirm that they are Britain's premier cathedral choir, Anglican or Roman Catholic. The 24 trebles on this highly acclaimed recording far surpass any sound I've heard St Paul's produce - and the three altos (three! in a double-choir line-up of over fifty singers!) are prominant, clear and rich in tone in a way that I've not come across before. The Widor Mass and motets are, of course, sung with gusto and grandeur, as is the astoundingly moving Vierne Mass - both ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Duruflé - Requiem

from: Hyperion

Release Date June 15, 1995
To start with the actual performance of the works: Both the requiem and the motets were written for a choir with boy sopranos, and the Westminster Abbey choir brings out the wonderful, etheral harmonies of these works beautifully. The reading is pious and meditative in places, which suits this piece wonderful. The choir diction is clear and distinct and the soloists are okay. Simon Keenlyside sings well, although a bit dull in both the requiem and the Messe Cum Jubilo, and the treble Aaron Webber has a few "young boy" wobbles, that are always present with boy soloists (If you want to hear a treble soloists without the nervous wobble, check out the Kings College 1963 recording of Allegri's Miserere with Roy Goodman as the treble soloist).

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CD-Charts Position 4
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Poulenc - Choral Works

from: Hyperion

Release Date July 01, 1994
To start with the actual performance of the works: Both the requiem and the motets were written for a choir with boy sopranos, and the Westminster Abbey choir brings out the wonderful, etheral harmonies of these works beautifully. The reading is pious and meditative in places, which suits this piece wonderful. The choir diction is clear and distinct and the soloists are okay. Simon Keenlyside sings well, although a bit dull in both the requiem and the Messe Cum Jubilo, and the treble Aaron Webber has a few "young boy" wobbles, that are always present with boy soloists (If you want to hear a treble soloists without the nervous wobble, check out the Kings College 1963 recording of Allegri's Miserere with Roy Goodman as the treble soloist).

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CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Martin/Pizzetti: Sacred Choral Works

from: Hyperion

Release Date January 05, 1998
This must be one of the most extraordinary and beautiful pieces of choral music ever written. It stands so much alone and complete that words are superfluous. While it was written in the magically creative year 1922, the composer did not release it for performance until 1963, and it is recognized as a profound expression of Martin's religious faith.

This over-used phrase does little justice, however, to what Martin has achieved. He has used all the resonant acoustics which a church can offer and all the tension generated by the close-moving dissonance and resolution of a complex arrangement for five small sets of a capella male voices. The result is something wonderful - a combination of form and environment creating a work of art ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Essential Bach

from: Hyperion

Release Date September 27, 1999
This must be one of the most extraordinary and beautiful pieces of choral music ever written. It stands so much alone and complete that words are superfluous. While it was written in the magically creative year 1922, the composer did not release it for performance until 1963, and it is recognized as a profound expression of Martin's religious faith.

This over-used phrase does little justice, however, to what Martin has achieved. He has used all the resonant acoustics which a church can offer and all the tension generated by the close-moving dissonance and resolution of a complex arrangement for five small sets of a capella male voices. The result is something wonderful - a combination of form and environment creating a work of art ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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The Music of Westminster Cathedral Choir

from: Hyperion

Release Date October 05, 1998
This must be one of the most extraordinary and beautiful pieces of choral music ever written. It stands so much alone and complete that words are superfluous. While it was written in the magically creative year 1922, the composer did not release it for performance until 1963, and it is recognized as a profound expression of Martin's religious faith.

This over-used phrase does little justice, however, to what Martin has achieved. He has used all the resonant acoustics which a church can offer and all the tension generated by the close-moving dissonance and resolution of a complex arrangement for five small sets of a capella male voices. The result is something wonderful - a combination of form and environment creating a work of art ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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A Gabrieli; G Gabrieli: A Venetian Coronation 1595

from: Virgin Classics

Release Date February 02, 1998
This is one of my favourite records. Not only is the music beautiful and evocative, but the essence of what the music is about - the coronation of the Doge - adds to it a sense of time and place other recordings don't have. With other records we get a rendition of a composer's work. But with this we get a rendition of a slice of life from another age. Owing to this it acts as a sort of 'time machine', transporting the listener into the congregation in St. Mark's. I would therefore not only recommend this solely on the basis of the music (which is tremendous) but also because it is an aural museum piece that opens up one's imagination to the power and glory of the Venetian republic.
A must have.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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The Feast of the Ascension at Westminster Abbey

from: Hyperion

Release Date March 31, 2008
This is one of my favourite records. Not only is the music beautiful and evocative, but the essence of what the music is about - the coronation of the Doge - adds to it a sense of time and place other recordings don't have. With other records we get a rendition of a composer's work. But with this we get a rendition of a slice of life from another age. Owing to this it acts as a sort of 'time machine', transporting the listener into the congregation in St. Mark's. I would therefore not only recommend this solely on the basis of the music (which is tremendous) but also because it is an aural museum piece that opens up one's imagination to the power and glory of the Venetian republic.
A must have.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Panis Angelicus

from: Hyperion

Release Date July 01, 1994
This is one of my favourite records. Not only is the music beautiful and evocative, but the essence of what the music is about - the coronation of the Doge - adds to it a sense of time and place other recordings don't have. With other records we get a rendition of a composer's work. But with this we get a rendition of a slice of life from another age. Owing to this it acts as a sort of 'time machine', transporting the listener into the congregation in St. Mark's. I would therefore not only recommend this solely on the basis of the music (which is tremendous) but also because it is an aural museum piece that opens up one's imagination to the power and glory of the Venetian republic.
A must have.