Reviews
of Discs - - - LD003 - Via Crucis -
A Perfect Tribute
to Franz Liszt, the Abbe, May 24, 2002
Frank Cedrone (1929-2003) Professor Emeritus
Music Department, University of Southern Colorado
Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) features Church of the
Holy Ghost Choir, Richard Robertson, conductor. Mary Kay
Kapustka is the piano accompanist, and a formidable accompanist
is she: brilliant where required, reflective and meditative
when dictated by the inspired music of Franz Liszt. She has
just the right sensitivity and power to do justice to a very
demanding score. The CD also contains 3 Sacred Choral Works
by Liszt, that complete an exemplary tribute to one of the
true musical giants of the Romantic era: FRANZ LISZT
British
Musical Society Newsletter
Paul Shoemaker
Classical Music Web
A capable recording of the Via Crucis is
always good news. The all-time great recording was
also one of the first, with the BBC Northern Singers conducted
by Gordon Thorne, Francis Jackson, organ, on a 1961 SAGA
LP XID 5079, many years out of print. That recording was
literally terrifying in the intensity of the drama. This
new recording benefits greatly from the digital sound,
is more reverent and less ferocious, but still an intensely
heartfelt document. The piano accompaniment is vivid,
solid, and passionately played, every bit as effective
as the more usual organ. The solo voices show emotional
commitment but sing clearly and with musicianship. The
ear accepts the little bit of strain in the baritone’s
high notes and the bit of wobble in the mezzo as entirely
in keeping with the passion of their declamation. The
recording venue acoustic is sufficient to convey a religious
atmosphere and surround the performers with a soft halo
but leave every musical detail clear and unblurred. This
is a very welcome addition to the Liszt discography.
When Liszt published his great oratorio Christus (S.
3) in 1872 he incorporated Die Seligkeiten into it
as section 6, the first number in Part II; but here, heard
by itself, it is quite effective. Here John Reschl sings
the baritone solos with great reverence and commitment. The
brief Ave Verum Corpus was excerpted from his Missa
Solennis (S. 9) in 1871 for separate performance. Le
Crucifix (S. 342/3) is a solo song, presented here with
great passion by mezzo Stump, one of many Liszt settings
of poems by Victor Hugo. It is not included in the general
roster of the songs probably because the autograph cannot
be found, and the three known versions differ slightly.
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