In its new series of mid-price reissues of John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers’ “most acclaimed recordings”, Collegium understandably has chosen to include this outstanding Poulenc program. If you somehow missed it when it was first released in the late 1980s, now’s your chance to experience these classic pieces–the sets of penitential and Christmas motets, the female-voice Ave verum, the orchestral version of the Litanies à la Vierge Noire, the Gloria–in performances as expertly interpreted and well-recorded as you’re likely to hear. Although the Cambridge Singers certainly deliver the Gloria with consistent command of style and technique (not to mention soprano soloist Donna Deam’s total mastery of the difficult leaps in the “Domine Deus, Agnus Dei” movement), it’s in the a cappella motets that this choir really shows its stuff and leaves no doubt as to the reason for its world-class stature. Just listen to the opening lines of “O magnum mysterium”, one of Poulenc’s most inspired creations, and you’ll be entranced as well as grateful for the continued availability of such high-quality recorded music. If you already own the earlier CD, there’s no reason to acquire this one–except to offer copies to your music-loving friends who unquestionably will thank you later. [12/21/2002]
