These performances, taken from Naxos’ complete Haydn Mass edition (on balance the finest set available), are well-nigh ideal. Two quibbles: the male soloists aren’t quite as good as the women, though they are certainly satisfactory, and in the Nelson Mass the timpani aren’t as well captured as are the trumpets in a couple of spots. But these are minor issues in the grand scheme of things. The Trinity Choir sings beautifully, soprano Ann Hoyt is magnificent in her many solo spots in the Nelson Mass, and J. Owen Burdick’s conducting is incredibly exciting. He really pushes the tempos in the Nelson Mass’s opening Kyrie, Gloria, and concluding Dona nobis pacem, but never at the expense of clarity, while the pastoral qualities of the Nikolai Mass blossom nicely.
The REBEL Baroque Orchestra sounds great everywhere but when the violins have a cantabile melody, at which points their period mannerisms tend to get in the way; but this isn’t a big deal in such predominantly vocal music. Since the Nikolai Mass is still something of a rarity, this coupling earns a warm recommendation, particularly if you’re not interested in buying the complete set. [7/6/2010]
