ZOLTAN KODALY / LEOS JANACEK
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Kodaly/Janacek: Masses Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell (director) [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Feb/2010 ] GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE -- GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE - RADIO 3 DISC OF THE WEEK -- CRITICS' CHOICE INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW |
FRANK MARTIN
Martin: Mass for Double Choir (with Pizzetti - Messa di Requiem) Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 19/Sep/2003 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER / RECORD OF THE YEAR Rosette (Highest Rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Panis angelicus - Sacred Music from Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral Choir, Iain Simcock (organ) James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Jan/2001 ] 'What can one say? A feast beyond all dreams. Guaranteed to please' (Organists' Review) 'A beautiful disc of sacred motets from one of this country's finest choirs' (Classic FM Magazine) |
GIOVANNI FRANCESCO ANERIO / FELICE ANERIO
Requiem / Motets Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 15/Apr/2006 ] "This is a fascinating disc of music in fine performances. Music by the Anerio brothers is still pretty rare on disc. In performances as committed and as passionate as their works make pretty riveting listening" (MusicWeb May 2006) |
ALLEGRI / PALESTRINA / LOTTI / VICTORIA / MONTEVERDI / CAVALLI / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Allegri: Miserere Westminster Cathedral Choir / King's College Choir, Stephen Cleobury [ Decca Eclipse / CD - released 21/Aug/1996 ] Original recordings from 1983, and 1984 |
JAMES MacMILLAN
Tenebrae Responsories & other works Westminster Cathedral Choir, London Brass, Martin Baker (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Jun/2013 ] Westminster Cathedral Choir returns to acclaimed Scottish composer James MacMillan, whose powerful, passionate and luminous music has made him one of the best-loved choral composers of today. Included on this recording is a dramatic setting of the... |
JOHN SHEPPARD
John Sheppard: Media vita & other sacred music Westminster Cathedral Choir, Martin Baker [ Hyperion / CD - released 28/Jul/2017 ] Even by the standards of a time and place-Tudor England-in which masterpieces of choral polyphony appear to have been virtually an everyday occurrence, there is something uniquely and intensely compelling about the surviving works of John Sheppard.... |
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI da PALESTRINA
PalestrinaL Missa Dum Complerentur Westminster Cathedral Choir / Martin Baker [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 4/Feb/2014 ] "Baker and the Westminster choir communicate a clear sense of the structural logic … the singers are excellent … virtually flawless … shut your eyes and you can almost smell the incense. Very warmly recommended" BBC Music |
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI da PALESTRINA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Palestrina: Music for Advent and Christmas Westminster Cathedral Choir, Martin Baker [ Hyperion / CD - released 20/Oct/2003 ] What better way to encapsulate the spirit of Christmas than with works of such devotional beauty, all sung with Westminster Cathedral Choir's customary finesse and atmospheric reverence |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Treasury of English Church Music: 1100-1965 Ambrosian Singers, Westminster Abbey Choir, Chichester Cathedral Choir, Guildford Cathedral Choir, St Pauls Cathedral Choir, Temple Church Choi [ Erato / Warner Classics / 5 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/2010 ] Here for the first time on CD are the celebrated five LPs of the HMV Treasury of English Church Music. Prefaced by the introductory speech Herbert Howells gave at the launch, and boasting more than 30 bonus tracks, this set offers a uniquely... |
TOMAS LUIS DE VICTORIA
Missa Vidi Speciosam / Ave maris Stella / etc Choir of Westminster Cathedral / David Hill [ Hyperion / CD - released 14/Sep/2007 ] GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE 'Splendid music, splendidly performed' (Gramophone) |
GUERRERO / LOBO / de VIVANCO
Treasures of the Spanish Renaissance Choir of Westminster Cathedral, David Hill [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Feb/2015 ] 'A record that should be on the shelves of every lover of Renaissance music' (The Musical Times) |
PRAETORIUS
Christmas Music Westminster Cathedral Choir, The Parley of Instruments, David Hill (conductor) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Oct/2011 ] 'My favourite ever Christmas recording. Lovely music, done with affection and great sympathy' (Hi-Fi News) |
JEAN LANGLAIS
Missa Salve regina / Messe solennelle Choir of Westminster Cathedral, David Hill (conductor) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 30/Aug/2013 ] 'It was a real joy for me to hear how perfect was the sound and also the playing and singing of the interpreters' (Jean Langlais) |
VICTORIA
O Quam Gloriosum & Ave Maris Stella Choir of Westminster Cathedral / David Hill (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 19/Sep/2003 ] GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER PENGUIN GUIDE ROSETTE |
VICTORIA
Requiem Mass Choir of Westminster Cathedral / David Hill (Master of the Music) [ Hyperion / CD - released 22/May/2005 ] 'Glorious. A rich, luminous acoustic halo seems to surround the music as it soars ever upward. Under David Hill's expert direction this choir has achieved a depth and body of tone totally appropriate to this full-blooded Iberian music' - The Good CD... |
TOMAS LUIS DE VICTORIA
Victoria: Requiem Mass Choir of Westminster Cathedral / David Hill (Master of the Music) [ Hyperion 30 / CD - released 1/Sep/2010 ] 'Glorious. A rich, luminous acoustic halo seems to surround the music as it soars ever upward. Under David Hill's expert direction this choir has achieved a depth and body of tone totally appropriate to this full-blooded Iberian music' |
PALESTRINA
Missa Ecce ego Johannes Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] "Even among the Westminster Cathedral Choir's superb records this disc stands out. Perfect chording and ensemble, natural and musical phrasing, spot-on intonation and a glorious tonal blend, make this issue one to treasure" (Penguin Guide) |
CHRISTOPHER TYE
Tye: Missa Euge bone / Peccavimus / Western Wynde Mass Choir of Westminster Cathedral, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Apr/2012 ] 'Immediately one is introduced to Tye's extraordinary sound-world of unusual cadences and rigorous alternation of high and low voices to achieve impressive effects. All of these are carefully allowed to speak for themeselves thanks to the judicious... |
TOMAS LUIS DE VICTORIA
Missa trahe me post te / Magnificat / etc Choir of Westminster Cathedral / James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] "Stunning examples of Victoria's most expressive and dramatic writing … having just listened to this recording again my ears are ringing and my heart is uplifted: a perfect tonic for the bleaker part of winter" (Gramophone) |
MAURICE DURUFLE
Durufle: Requiem / Quatre Motets / Messe cum Jubilo / etc Choir of Westminster Cathedral / James O'Donnell (conductor) with Aaron Webber (treble) and Simon Keenlyside (baritone) [ Hyperion / CD - released 25/May/2005 ] 'The Westminster Cathedral boys and men carry the lyricism and harmonic luxuriance to an ethereal plane. The choral singing is superb ... helping one to bathe in Duruflé's sumptuous ideas' (The Daily Telegraph) |
TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA
Missa Dum complerentur Choir of Westminster Cathedral / James O'Donnell (director) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Sep/2011 ] CLASSIC CD 100 GREATEST DISCS OF THE DECADE |
FRANCISCO GUERRERO
Guerrero: Missa Sancta et immaculata The Choir of Westminster Cathedral / James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] RECORD OF THE MONTH, CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
From the Vaults of Westminster Cathedral Choir of Westminster Cathedral / Martin Baker (director) [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Nov/2009 ] "Throughout, the choral singing under Martin Baker's direction glows resplendently, while still retaining its celebrated 'continental' edge." (Gramophone) |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Hymns & Other Choral Works Choir of Worcester Cathedral / Choir of Westminster Abbey [ Chandos Collect / CD - released 1/Sep/1992 ] "If that Englishness in music can be encapsulated in words at all, those words would probably be: ostensibly familiar and commonplace, yet deep and mystical as well as lyrical, melodic, melancholic, and nostalgic yet timeless." (Peter Ackroyd) |
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Five Flower Songs & other choral works Elizabethan Singers / London Symphony Chorus / Westminster Cathedral Choir [ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / CD - released 1/Jan/2013 ] "First CD releases of classic accounts of Britten part songs from Louis Halsey's Elizabethan Singers, plus a searing live recording of the Missa Brevis from 1960" (BBC Music) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Christmas Through the Ages Psalmody, The Parley of Instruments, The King’s Consort, The Sixteen, Westminster Cathedral Choir, et al. [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Nov/2009 ] 'Other than to assure you that it works for me, need I say more?' (Fanfare, USA) |
Westminster Cathedral Choir
Ave Regina Caelorum [ Hyperion / CD - released 4/Oct/2004 ] |
Westminster Cathedral Choir
Ave Regina Caelorum [ Hyperion / Hybrid SACD - released 4/Oct/2004 ] |
ALONSO LOBO
Lobo: Lamentations & other sacred music Westminster Cathedral Choir [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Jun/2016 ] Alonso Lobo may be remembered principally for the great funerary motet Versa est in luctum, but his setting of the biblical Lamentations must also be counted among the masterpieces of Renaissance polyphony. No choir has a more distinguished tradition... |
JAMES MACMILLAN
Mass and other sacred music Westminster Cathedral Choir / Martin Baker (with Andrew Reid organ) [ Hyperion / CD - released 15/May/2001 ] "Powerful liturgical music from one of today's most admired composers, performed with passionate intensity by the Westminster choristers" (Gramophone) |
GABRIEL FAURE
Faure: Requiem Op 48 / Messe Basse / Motets Westminster Cathedral Choir, David Hill, St John's College, Cambridge, Robinson [ ALTO / CD - released 1/Nov/2010 ] Top recordings at a special price |
LASSUS
Missa Bell' Amfitrit' altera Westminster Cathedral Choir / His Majesty's Sagbutts & Cornetts / James O'Donnell, conductor [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 4/Oct/2005 ] 'Elegant and imaginative... the wind-band pieces are especially gorgeous. [The Mass] receives an opulent interpretation that stands out in a rather crowded field of challengers. Highly recommended' - Gramophone |
CARDOSO / DE CRISTO / REBELO
Masterpieces of Portuguese Polyphony Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Sep/2007 ] 'Although this music is likely to be unknown to most collectors it will prove, as it has to me, a welcome and important discovery' (The Tablet) |
PALESTRINA
Missa Aeterna christi Munera Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 10/Mar/2011 ] "A perfect introduction to the breadth of Palestrina's genius, inspiringly sung" Organists Review |
FRANCISCO de PENALOSA
Masses Westminster Cathedral Choir, James O'Donnell (conductor) [ Hyperion Helios / CD - released 1/Jul/2011 ] "The exquisite performances under O'Donnell present the music to best advantage, given the masterly accomplishments of this choir" (Fanfare) |
TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA
De Beata Maria Virgine & Surge propera Westminster Cathedral Choir, Martin Baker [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Nov/2011 ] Following the success of the Westminster Cathedral Lay Clerks in their sumptuous men-only recording of Victoria's Missa Gaudeamus, the choir returns to full ranks for a further issue in their survey of the Masses of this undisputed Master of the... |
BRAHMS / RHEINBERGER
Masses & Motets Westminster Cathedral Choir / Martin Baker [ Hyperion / CD - released 14/Jul/2006 ] Brahms's Missa canonica is something of a rarity: composed around 1856, the work lay unperformed until 1983 despite being regarded highly enough by its composer for him to have re-used some of its material in the popular motet Warum ist das Licht... |