Damian Thompson Damian Thompson

Beethoven: Missa solemnis

I’m going to award this CD by the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and Cappella Amsterdam my highest accolade and actually buy it

issue 29 July 2017

When you first encounter it, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis can sound like the Ninth Symphony with more singing but no tunes. But the more I listen to it, the more I agree with the composer that it’s his greatest work — or, at least, up there with the last two piano sonatas and his String Quartet Op.

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