Mendelssohn – Complete Sacred Choral Works, Vol. 1

This album is the first of two to focus on a number of Mendelssohn’s smaller-scale sacred choral settings that have become increasingly acknowledged in terms of performance frequency and audience appreciation. The WDR Radio Choir is directed in this project by Christoph Poppen, internationally applauded, unfailingly versatile, and already lauded for his Naxos edition of Mozart’s complete masses, with BBC Music Magazine commenting on Vol. 6 that ‘Christoph Poppen’s exemplary cycle seems only to gain in stature with each successive release.’

MENDELSSOHN, Felix: Sacred Choral Works (Complete), Vol. 1

8.574640

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Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)
Complete Sacred Choral Works, Vol. 1
Psalms 42 ¹, 95 ² and 98 ³
Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott ⁴
Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh’ darein ⁵

Juliane Banse ^{1, 2}, Charlotte Langner ², Sopranos
Seil Kim ^{1, 2}, Thomas Jakobs ¹, Tenors
Äneas Humm, Baritone ^{1, 5} • Manfred Bittner, Bass-baritone ¹
WDR Radio Choir
Cologne Chamber Orchestra • Christoph Poppen

Sacred choral music played a critical role in Mendelssohn’s life. The steady stream of Psalm settings made throughout his career provided a means through which he could make heartfelt responses to the texts of his faith. This first volume in the series reveals Mendelssohn’s skill in conveying the emotions behind each text, from the festive jubilation of Psalm 98, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, to an expansive setting of Psalm 42, Wie der Hirsch schreit, regarded by Robert Schumann as the highest point Mendelssohn reached as a composer for the church.

Listen to an extract from Psalm 95: Kommt, lasst uns anbeten, Op. 46:
Denn sein ist das Meer

About the artists

Juliane Banse
Soprano

Charlotte Langner
Soprano

Seil Kim
Tenor

Thomas Jakobs | © Les Visagistes Mannheim

Thomas Jakobs
Tenor

Äneas Humm
Baritone

Manfred Bittner
Bass-baritone

Christoph Poppen
Conductor

WDR Radio Choir

Cologne Chamber Orchestra

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Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847) Complete Sacred Choral Works, Vol. 1 Psalms 42 1, 95 2 and 98 3 Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott 4 Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh’ darein 5

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)
Complete Sacred Choral Works, Vol. 1
Psalms 42 ¹, 95 ² and 98 ³
Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott ⁴
Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh’ darein ⁵