After his incandescent Verdi Requiem (also recorded for EMI with some of the same forces), Carlo Maria Giulini’s Beethoven Missa solemnis largely disappoints. The passion and fervor of the Verdi has been replaced by a heavy religious devotion that prolongs this already lengthy work. Yes, these are two profoundly different compositions, but Beethoven’s Mass also benefits from emotional intensity, vitality, and spontaneity as Bernstein demonstrated in his marvelous Concertgebouw recording on Deutsche Grammophon. Giulini’s tempos are mostly slow, though his use of dynamic extremes, along with richly sonorous orchestral textures (and the New Philharmonia Chorus’ powerful, beautifully blended singing), does create a sense of occasion. Nonetheless the long Credo is too stiff and unyielding, a mistake also made by Karajan and Levine. The Sanctus, featuring highly accomplished and heartfelt singing by Harper, Baker, Tear, and Sotin, comes off best.
Beethoven’s earlier, smaller-scaled Mass in C draws a correspondingly lighter approach from Giulini as he turns in a nicely proportioned rendition, while Christ on the Mount of Olives is actually conducted by Helmut Rilling (even though he’s not mentioned on the CD cover). Rilling’s choral expertise shines forth in this beautifully realized performance, which features first-rate choral and solo contributions. The remastered 1970s EMI recordings sound fine, even if with a slight touch of saturation. Hänssler Classic’s 1994 production with Rilling has no such sonic constraints.
