Beethoven : Mass in C major

[@achitophel5852]

Richter was a genius. His Bach recordings are unsurpassed. His early death was a tragic loss to the whole world. A magnificent musician who never had the chance to enthral us in later years.

[@adambomb30]

Never understood why this piece is so seldom performed or recorded as it is a real masterpiece. And Richter's reading of it is by far and away the best I've ever heard!!

[@michaeldoyle6702]

It seems that with the greatest composers, with so many masterful compositions to listen to, many pieces are neglected in favour of the most critically discussed. For example, the Masonic Funeral Music of Mozart is seldom played, listended to occasionally. If Haydn had written it, I am sure it would be viewed as his greatest composition. That isnt to degrade Haydn as a composer. The Mass in C is a beautiful piece. The last few minutes in the Agnus Dei are sublime, looking forward to the Missa Solemnis in the attention Beethoven gives these ancient words, especially dona nobis pacem.

[@anonymusum]

True. I conducted this piece several years ago and since then it´s one of my fav works by Beethoven.

[@eckistein6553]

I agree to quality and beauty of the mass, but I regret, that the old recording with Kuhse, Burmeister, Schreier, Adam, Leipziger Rundfunkchor und Sinfonieorchester unter Herbert Kegel isn‘t available anymore. For years it was my favourite recording and I loved it. It opened my mind for this outstanding and underestimated mass.

[@alger3041]

​@Michael Doyle These impressions are always subjective. I adore this work, and parts of it move me to tears. Conversely, the Missa Solemnis, despite occasional beauties, leaves me entirely cold. It is a lesson that we cannot rely on second hand opinions, but must simply do our own listening. This matter of what is "considered to be" is total anathema to me. We have to form our own appraisals, and only by extensive listening experience Re we in a position to form an intelligent and articulate appraisal. This work reaches me to my very being, and I respond to it from first note to last. The Missa Solemnis does not remotely have a comparable effect on me. This is after more than 60 years of acquaintance with both works.

[@daved6168]

@alger3041 Agree 100%, especially your contrast with missa solemnis which, as a traditional Catholic, I find incomprehensible. C major on the other hand is highly evocative of the entire Catholic experience from Sunday mass to Catholic school priest personalities. It's SIMPLY UNCANNY how Beethoven could reach down over 200 years to personally resonate with my paltry private Catholic experiences.

[@michaeldoyle6702]

The organ line is heard very clearly for a change. Richter is likely the soloist. The chorus is very beautiful and precise. A very under rated conductor and performance.

[@achitophel5852]

Richter - an organist of superb talent - no better interpreter of Bach's organ works. Died tragically young and hugely under-rated as a conductor.

[@annamcancarini6953]

​@@achitophel5852 Perhaps underrated by hip fanatics, not by most people or many critics that still adore him, one of the most important musicians of the XX century. His charisma was enormous, his Bach and Haendel interpretations still a benchmark. When he performed the Beethoven Missa Solemnis op. 123 in Bonn just before his death, it was considered the best ever. If he had lived longer, he would have recorded much more music of the XIX century, he had just signed an important contract with DG in 1980. He died on 15th february 1981. An important critic defined him the most interesting and complete musician of the time.

[@stefanhinners3046]

Elmar Schloter is playing the organ.

[@achitophel5852]

Totally agree. I always feel Bach is by his side when he is at the organ.

[@pilizorrilla13]

GRACIAS INFINITAS. BEETHOVEN-RICHTER. RICHTER BEETHOVEN. MARAVILLOSO!!!

[@helensilver1381]

Soulful beginning followed by a triumphantly clear choir entrance- almost operatic. Karl Richter understood from the deep heart's core the meaning of the words - he was inspired in the Latin sense of the word.

[@Longago2012]

An impressive view from Karl Richter to a Masterpiece full of power and clarity

[@paulheffron4836]

This is a truly inspired work. You are so right about Richter and his vision.

[@Longago2012]

Thanks a lot Paul and best wishes to you.

[@foxxkim]

i've just got RIchter's workpiece set of 100 CDs from DG, listening to BACH mass B minor....reminded again his greatness....

[@ArmenianBishop]

The Bass line comes through stronger in this performance. I listened to this one a number of times, because I'll be a Bass Singer for Beethoven's Mass very soon, and their voices come through well.

[@branislavmisina]

Beethoven brings peace to mankind

[@josemarinelli1001]

Belissimo. BRAVO!

[@primostendardi5779]

Bellissima esecuzione della Messa in Do. Particolarmente bello l'inizio del Sanctus.

[@daved6168]

The Benedictus is MY favorite.

[@obrcht]

Instead of the traditional forbidding Kyrie we have one almost like a lullaby with the opening A cappella. What follows is a masterpiece, one of Schubert's favorite, of primitive vitality and dewy, spring-like freshness. Qualities found in Palestrina, different way of course, a composer Beethoven studied intensely.

[@michaeldoyle6702]

The Palestrina influence , evident in the a capella parts of the chorus, is so evident because of the excellence of both the choir and the recording.

[@annamcancarini6953]

Interpretazione sublime dell'incomparabile Karl Richter, con interpreti meravigliosi. Avete ragione, Richter non ha potuto incidere la Missa Solemnis. L'ha suonata un'ultima volta Bonn nel settembre 1980 e le critiche furono entusiastiche: dopo pochi mesi è purtroppo scomparso.

[@primostendardi5779]

Richter eseguì la Missa Solemnis con i Muenchener Philharmoniker ma non fu pubblicata, e Richter morì poco dopo. Dove ha potuto ascoltarla?

[@michaeldoyle6702]

I had no idea Richter recorded the Missa. I will seek it out.

[@annamcancarini6953]

@@primostendardi5779 Ovviamente non l'ho ascoltata di persona, ma ho letto le critiche nella biografia di Richter pubblicata da R.Woerner nel 2016: Karl Richter, eine Wirkungsgeschichte.

[@leonardopaoletti3940]

@@annamcancarini6953 non ero al corrente dell'esistenza di questa biografia. La ringrazio per l'informazione. Richter fu un uomo straordinario.

[@sheldonbazinga3985]

Alors qu'on lui reproche constamment de romantiser le baroque, allons nous lui faire grief de "retenir" ainsi Beethoven? Ce serait un comble! Et pourtant on attendrait qu'il "lâche les chevaux" par moments! On aimerait qu'il sorte de ses gonds comme il sait si bien le faire quand il est à l'orgue... Mais Madame Janowitz illumine cette messe comme elle l'avait déjà fait avec la Missa Solemnis dirigée par Karajan... Elle est dans son élément et plane loin au dessus de tout le monde...

[@MalisandreFeline]

SheldonBazinga 3985 Peut-être vous attendiez vous à ce que Richter soit un peu plus" Karajaniste"( ou Karajanesque),et attelle ses chevaux à la vitesse d'un Paris -Berlin?Cette version m'interpelle autant que le grand maître du Berliner Philarmoniker, si tant soit peu que ce Maestro eu été souvent d'une diligence toute teutonique!Vraiment Mmes Hamari et Janovitz sont les voix resplendissantes de cette œuvre ce qui n'abaisse pas le talent de MrRichter!Et un bon choix de votre part !

[@sheldonbazinga3985]

Effectivement, j'aurais aimé qu'il amplifie, qu'il éructe, qu'il "beethovenise"... Et honnêtement on ne retrouve pas les sonorités du grand Ludwig qui fait qu'à chaque fois qu'on entend son orchestre on frissonne... @@MalisandreFeline

[@zyonnmarx]

SUBLIMISSIME!!!

[@canman5060]

This is a DGG recording dated back to the early 1970's.

[@augustocianfoni6954]

Considerata opera minore questa Messa in do maggiore rispetto alla monumentale Missa solemnis...ma Richter e le grandi voci le danno una dimensione di alta spiritualità.

[@timpack8178]

Cum sancto spiritu (11:55)

[@marcofulviobarontini443]

❤

[@이물빈]

what's the name of choir?

[@hansklein5548]

Ich habe nach wenigen Takten abgebrochen. Wie kann ein verantwortlicher Dirigent eine so unterschiedliche Aussprache von Kyrie eleison von Chor und Solisten zulassen?

[@daved6168]

Because he's KARL RICHTER, OK? HE CAN DO NO WRONG!

[@daved6168]

I LOVE that blue shirt

[@Assalariado762]

...I've heard better versions

[@achitophel5852]

Perhaps different. But better? Define.

[@mladentarbuk7962]

It is the only one with original tempos

[@anonymusum]

So what?

[@philliphamilton3591]

And how would you define better? Why not simply enjoy, instead of playing the critic!

[@daved6168]

@@anonymusum So EVERYTHING!! You non-Catholics and Novum Ordo heretics have no idea how much the traditional and genuine Catholic heart ACHES for the TLM which Beethoven and his servant Richter captured in spades! This is nothing short of Sunday at High Mass throughout this planet. That Beethoven guy was simply UNCANNY to be able to capture such a universal ambience. With all due respect, nobody else came close save for Schubert in his E flat major mass (#6) and that goes for Haydn, Mozart et al and even B's Missa Solemnis! We traditional Catholics have been cheated out of CENTURIES of Catholic culture by those impostors in the Vatican. SEDE VACANTE!!