Hallelujah Œuvres chorales

Description

Son of wealthy German bankers, Jacob Meyer (1791-1864) took the name Giacomo Meyerbeer out of love for Italian opera. A pianist in his early days, he traveled across Europe, Italy (where he discovered Rossini), and Germany (where he faced competition from Weber), but it was in Paris (where he met Scribe, his future librettist) that he built a true career as a composer with his two main operas: Robert le Diable and Les Huguenots. The sacred music presented here is church music intended for liturgical use. In this respect, it is quite similar to the works of Mendelssohn (the Psalm Der.91, alternating choir and solo passages) or sometimes to Cherubini (the "Cantatine" Hallelujah imbued with pompous solemnity). The "Seven Sacred Songs" are varied airs adorned with beautiful contrapuntal embellishments. As for the choir "An Mozart," it is the little extra treat that enhances a well-designed program. A beautiful performance by the majestic Rheinsche Kantorei (whose overall balance and vocal quality of the sections are appreciated in every recording) and its conductor Hermann Max, who cannot be accused of not knowing his repertoire well. (Jérôme Angouillant)