BMG is currently holding a pretty good sale on Robert Shaw CDs. I've
made no secret of the fact that I've found his Telarc recordings variable
- that is, the great appears cheek by jowl with the bland and the downright
terrible. Since I've bought most of his CDs, I'll list my favorites and
less-than-favorites:
Absolute Heaven: Basically, a compilation of other CDs. You'd do better
to buy those rather than this.
Adams: Harmonium; Rachmaninoff: The Bells - A stunning Harmonium; an OK
Bells (I prefer my Melodiya performance)
Amazing Grace: Undoubtedly one of the best of the Robert Shaw Festival
Singer CDs. Quite fine performances of Shaw-Parker (mostly Parker)
arrangements of white and black "spirituals," among the greatest takes
of this literature ever done.
Appear and Inspire: Great repertoire. Horrible performance. It never
should have been released.
Bach: Magnificat; Vivaldi: Gloria - In its energy and joy, recalls Shaw's
glory days in the Sixties. Not HIP (my normal preference), but beautiful,
exciting readings nevertheless.
Bach: Mass in b - Less intense than Shaw's RCA recording with the RS
Chorale of the same work, but it still retains enough of its edge. A fine
performance, and a completely individual view of the work. The movements
become choral concerti grossi.
Barber: Prayers of Kierkegaard; Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem;
Bartok: Cantata profana - a great Barber. The Vaughan Williams lacks
Hickox and Boult's intensity. The Bartok not as exciting as Fricsay's.
Another mixed bag.
Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes - Again, not up to Shaw's RCA recording, but
quite fine. I always thought Shaw's Brahms (although he wasn't
particularly known for it) got to the heart of that composer.
Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale - BUY THIS!!! In addition to the
classic Shaw-Parker carol arrangments, you also get his first (and slightly
better) Britten Ceremony of Carols.
Evocation of the Spirit: Great repertoire in performances that should
never have been released.
Faure: Requiem/Durufle: Requiem - One of his best CDs. I quibble only
with the tempo of the opening movement of the Faure. Others may also find
fault with the version of the Durufle (all choral, no solos), though I
don't. Gorgeous performances of gorgeous works.
Handel: Messiah Choruses and Arias - 16 selections. Shaw probably could
have conducted this in his sleep, given all his years with it. It's a good
performance, but not wonderful.
Mendelssohn: Elijah. Horrible. The best thing about it is Thomas
Hampson's Elijah, the finest I've heard, including Fisher-Dieskau's.
But Shaw hasn't a clue to most of the music. The hell of it is that I've
heard him do it splendidly live.
Poulenc: Mass in g, etc. Poulenc himself considered Shaw his best
interpreter. It's easy to see why. The RS Festival Singers are a tad
rough, but Poulenc can take it. Monumental.
Rachmaninoff: Vespers. A good, first-rate recording, but I believe real
aficionados of the work would prefer the Russian chorus on EMI.
Songs of Angels/Bright Day Star - Christmas carol arrangments by the entity
known as Shaw-Parker (mostly Parker). Glorious.
Stephen Foster Songbook: With the Robert Shaw Chorale in Shaw-Parker
arrangements. A classic performance. I'm not a Stephen Foster fan, but
this is a favorite CD.
Steve Schwartz
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