Gounod won the Prix de Rome with his cantata 'Ferdinand' and used the scholarship for a multi-year stay in Italy, where he studied the music of Palestrina and other Baroque masters.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Gounod's 'Cäcilienmesse' (St. Cecilia Mass) reflects his preoccupation with opera, demanding six harps and combining sublime simplicity with operatic-dramatic elements.
Recording & Production
This album features live recordings of the 'Cäcilienmesse' from a Christmas concert in December 2018 and the 'Messe no. 5 aux séminaires' from May 2019, both performed at Mainz Cathedral.
Performer Biography
The Rathgeber brothers, Christian (tenor), Tobias (tenor), and Felix (bass), all received their initial musical training in the Windsbacher Knabenchor (Windsbach Boys Choir).
Compositional Technique
The 'Messe no. 5 aux séminaires' by Gounod blends modern harmony and archaic choral declamation with Gregorian-influenced melodies, showcasing a stylistic diversity including triadic arpeggiations and chromaticism.
Composer Biography
Charles Gounod, the composer, received his early musical education from music theorist Anton Reicha and began his studies at the Paris Conservatoire National de Musique at age 18.
Critical Reception
Camille Saint-Saëns, a contemporary composer, praised the premiere of Gounod's 'Cäcilienmesse' in 1855, describing its 'simplicity, greatness, and pure light' as astonishing.
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Liturgic Pappano
Fauré: Requiem; Cantique de Jean Racine; Messe basse; 2 Motets, Op. 65
