Carus Classics

Carus is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a series of mid-price re-issues of choral music as DigiPacs

Mozart: Vesperae Solennes etc CARUS83317 Schubert: Mass No. 2 etc CARUS83318
Reger: Ausgewahlte Volkslieder CARUS83319 Brahms: Liebeslieder - Walzer CARUS83320
D. Scarlatti: Geistliche Chorwerke CARUS83321 Kraus: Der Tod Jesu CARUS83322
Silcher: Heimliche Liebe CARUS83323 Mitten wir im Leben sind CARUS83324
Rossini: Il Carnevale CARUS83325 Vivaldi: Kyrie, Gloria in D major, Credo & Magnificat in G minor

We have received several. The Reger folksongs were disappointing, mostly strophic and rather predictable. The Schubert usefully extends likely knowledge of his wide raging compositions in that genre. Most revelatory, and a very special CD was that devoted to Rossini's so-called Sins of Old Age, composed prolifically after he stopped composing operas

Schubert Choral Music

Mass No. 2 in G major, D167
Magnificat in C major, D486
Deutsche Messe, D872
Deutsches Salve Regina in F, D379
Salve Regina in B flat major, D386

Edith Lienbacher (soprano), Adrian Erod (baritone), Barbara Holzl (alto), Alexander Kaimbacher (tenor), Martin Nowak (organ), Anton Scharinger (bass)
Vienna Chamber Choir
Vienna Orpheus Orchestra/Johannes Prinz

For putting Schubert in perspective, this collection of mainly early choral works is invaluable, and they are well performed, documented and recorded in the mid-price Carus Classics series.

These are well worth exploring by collectors who might find themselves financially stretched after Christmas !

Rossini Il Carnevale

Rossini (1792-1868) wrote his last opera in 1829, but was far from idle thenceforward.

This collection is charmingly varied in forces used, culminating with the eponymous Carnival, of which the score is available on line and a lively performance can be watched on YouTube.

The CDs are well produced, with comprehensive background notes and full texts of the songs in Italian and English.

Peter Grahame Woolf

Peter Grahame Woolf