Karajan: Mozart "Coronation" Mass (with Pope John Paul II, r. "live" 1985) - DG

$

45

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ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This quite rare LP – a beautiful collector's copy – from Deutsche Grammophon (419 096-1, German pressing, white circle label, DDD stereo) features a rather famous performance of Mozart's 'Coronation' Mass in C Major K. 317, which Herbert von Karajan conducted for the Solemn High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica for the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This was offered as a tribute to Pope John Paul II on St. Peter's Day, 29 June 1985.

For the occasion Karajan led the Schola Cantorum, the Sistine Chapel Choir, the Vienna Singverein, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and soloists Kathleen Battle (soprano) Trudeliese Schmidt (mezzo), Gösta Winbergh (tenor), Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass), and Rudolf Scholz (organ).

For those who believe Karajan's succcess was largely studio-made, this 'live' recording proves what a magnetic artist he could be whether before the microphone or an audience (or both).

Moreover, this very unique and special recording – made in collaboration with Radio Vaticana - serves as a touching memento for the much missed Pope John Paul II.

Following the instructions of the Holy See, all proceeds were paid to Caritas Internationalis.

Wrote Mary Berry in the July 1986 issue of The Gramophone:

"An amazing record, this: a performance of Mozart's Coronation Mass offered as a feast-day tribute to the Pope on St Peter's Day, 1985—European Music Year—a delightful gesture on the part of the conductor Herbert von Karajan! Given the dimensions of the Papal basilica, a work of such liveliness and delicacy was bound to present major problems to both performers and sound engineers. This explains why, compared with Karajan's earlier DG recording (2530 704, 2/77—LP only) all the movements had to be taken at a considerably slower tempo. Yet none of the work's youthful vitality appears to have suffered. The long reverberation was overcome partially by the skilful placing of microphones. The orchestra does tend to sound too close to the listener as a result, but when the echo comes through—in the rests—it enhances rather than detracts from the general effect of splendour: indeed, it occasionally plays a dramatic role in its own right, prolonging, for example, the soprano's pause on ''peccata'' in the Agnus Dei.

"Karajan was contending with the hazards of live recording. But Mozart's Mass, performed in the context of a Papal liturgy and not merely in the concert hall or recording studio, has a sense of purpose and a high degree of added vitality which even the pilgrimage church of Maria Plain could not have provided. The Proper of the Mass is divided between the students of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music (painfully underrehearsed, especially the men in the ''Alleluia''), and the choir of the Sistine Chapel, who perform settings by Maestro Bartollucci. The Gospel is admirably chanted in Latin by the Deacon.

"Perhaps the star performer—if one may say so with due respect—is really the Pope himself. He has a strong, well-timbred voice and he generally sings with clarity and restraint. Once, in hisPreface, he reverted to a slow detached emphatic style reminiscent of an earlier age. And once he let his heart and h is emotion take over as he sang the ''Peter noster'' with unexpectedly romantic fervour, together with the entire nave.

"In short, this is a...remarkable sound document of a very special occasion, a great human celebration. Perhaps, too, a delicate reminder, in high places, that great music and expertise need to be encouraged and fostered in the liturgy, and never allowed to be ousted by triviality and incompetence."

Incidentally, bound into the interior of the gatefold jacket is a full-size, 16-page booklet, which reproduces correspondence between Karajan and the Vatican prior to this momentous occasion, as well as Pope John Paul II's homily that day, as well as the full text of the Proper of the Mass – all texts provided in German, French, English, Italian, and Spanish.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the gatefold jacket is EXCELLENT. There is a slight smudge to the front panel from a former price sticker and minor creasing, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the jacket remains perfectly solid, bright, glossy, and extremely attractive – overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT), really this is a very fine copy and playback is truly superb. However, if you must have absolutely perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a very fine collector's copy.