Review: Hengelbrock's Stunning Balthasar-Neumann Edition

Thomas Hengelbrock's Balthasar-Neumann choir and ensemble may not be the best known group in the "historically informed performance" firmament, but they turn in some of the best-ever versions of works such as Bach's B-Minor Mass and Haydn's The Creation, as well as extraordinary rarities and favorites by composers as diverse as Lotti, Zelenka, Durante, Cavalli, Pergolesi, Monteverdi, Purcell, Caldara, Handel and many others. This 16-CD set is an absolute gem, and a must for serious collectors of 17th and 18th-century vocal music.

[LyleFrancisDelp]

This is a most illuminating review. Thank you. I think you know more about music and music history than I will EVER know...and music is my profession...and I know tons more about all of this than any of my colleagues. Sad, in a way, that many young musicians coming from our best music schools, though they are splendid players, know so little about what they are playing. As you did not make music your main profession, your knowledge comes from a deep felt love of the arts and music itself. Our culture really needs more people like you.

[derwandererwanderer]

Thanks again for this Mr Hurwitz. I do have this box and I wholehertedly agree with you. I have not heard all of the music (yet... too much of a good thing, etc) but everything I have heard (Bach, Handel, Haydn, Zelenka, the Lotti Miserere...) is stunning. The B Minor has become my latest go-to version.
Here in Europe, Herngelbrock and his B-N Ensemble are, of course, quite widely recongised and celebrated by seasoned music lovers and quite deservedly so.
I was lucky enough to catch them live twice, here in Athens, Greece:
Back in 2017 they offered us a superb Bach Jonannes Passion. The interesting thing about that performance, definately more dramatic than devotional, was that the solo parts (with the exception of the Evangelist, taken by "star" german tenor Daniel Behle) were sung by the choir ensemble members. Their level of unity, precision, and mutual understanding was impressive. The choir as a whole is, of course, first class, but so is the playing of the band, HIP but thorougly musical and composer-serving.
And then, in 2019, another superb concert, with a Mozart (-Sussmayr) Requiem, coupled with a rarity (as many of the pieces in this big box), the Johann Caspar Kerll "Missa Superba". A very surprising and uplifting work, for 6 or 8 (don't remember any more) vocal parts and 4 trombones in the orchestra. Kerll was an austrian, late XVIIth century, composer (whom, along with most other people in the audience, I had never heard before that concert). It is a substantial piece that last about 25-28 minutes.
To make a stunning concert even more memorable (and underline his ecclectic tastes), Hengelbrock offered a surprising russian a cappella hymn by Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944) as an encore.
This superb box, here in Europe, sells for less than 50 $, a real bargain, and it is well worth exploring.

[wilsonfirth]

So agree with you about the B Minor Mass. Was serially disappointed by Gramophone recommendations. Then heard a snatch of the Hengelbrock on the radio and knew that - at last - here was the one. Have had it for three years and have never felt the need ever to listen to buy another yet. Have to try not to think about the idea of the ballet though!

[moviedave]

I knew this name rang a bell! Hengelbrock also recorded a sensational Dvorak's 4th! Another great, neglected work that usually ends up in the obligation section of the complete cycles.

[ftumschk]

The friction between Handel and Bononcini was satirised in a rhyme by John Byrom, who dubbed them Tweedledum and Tweedledee. This was the first time those names had appeared in writing:
Some say, compar'd to Bononcini,
Mr Handel's but a ninny;
Others aver, that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a candle.
Strange all this difference should be
Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee

[curseofmillhaven]

Judging by some of the ridiculous prices for individual items in this set (well at least on Amazon UK anyway) you're better off buying to the whole thing. That said after listening to this version of the B Minor Mass on Primephonic (sounds really fabulous), I found a second hand copy in Music Magpie for 96pence so it pays to shop around!

[robertyanal]

Apple Music has "highlights" of the Hengelbrock b-minor mass (= Mass - (Kyrie + Sanctus))

[geoffgrundy]

In high school, our choir sang (probably very badly!) Lotti's "Crucifixus a 8', a three and a half minute little jewel, which was my gateway drug into baroque choral music. Sadly, it doesn't get quite the love that Caldara's "a 16' gets, but does occasionally pop up in choral anthologies.

[roko]

I know you said you checked its availability but I've searched my usual sources (Amazon, HB Direct, ArkivMusic, Import CDs, Presto Classical) and can't find it. It's not even on the Deutsche Harmonia Mundi website. Please let me know where I might find it.