Bach's Mass in B Minor: What is best CD out there?

The Gardiner is a light "original instruments" like sound.
It is very good if this is how you like your Bach.

If you want a more "classical" choral sound, then a recording like the "Robert" Shaw/Atlantic Symphony recording would be a better choice.

Actually my picks on "modern" instruments instead of the Shaw would be.....

Soloists...Auger, Murray, Lipovsek, others...
Leipzig Radio Chorus/Staatskapelle Orchestra, Dresden, conducted by Peter Schreier.
On Philips 432 972-2

Soloist, Marchall, Ramey, Baker, Tear, others...
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields/Neville Mariner conductor....
On Philips 416 415-2

If you want the recording Aida_w mentions, and it is not available in the US, then check the UK Tower Records website which is:

http://www.towerrecords.co.uk/

They will ship to the US from the UK store. It is not much more for regular air mail shipping.

I have bought quite a few "unavailable" CDs this way.

I mean no disrespect to anyone; but how does anyone know what does or does not capture the way the work sounded in the year 1750. Is there a 253 year old recording available; or is there anyone still alive from 1750 who went to a performance, who can attest to these claims?? All there is are self-anointed "experts".

The only facts I know of is; in 1750 it was a lot harder, or next to impossible in some areas to put together an orchestra of highly trained musicians and singers. There was also not a very good supply of quality instruments in a single area. So unless there are mistakes by some musicians and some instruments sound a little off, it probably is not historically correct.

It is just as likely, that if Bach were alive today, he would say...."With all the wonderful and superior equipment and musicians you have today, why are you playing my music on that old crap??"

Now, I do like the sound of many "historically correct" recordings. But has anyone ever insisted that their dentist use original instruments?

I actually mostly agree Aida....
My comment on hard to get good musicians is based on some personal letters that exist from some of the old masters, where they complain to friends on the lack of good players (in some places). Mozart was a big complainer. Beethoven was never happy with the quality of pianos.

Actually orchestras and choruses in that era were very small compared with today. I am sure partly due to supply.

Try playing a Stratavari with the old gut strings in a drafty old church or building with no environmental controls. See how long it stays in tune.

Many old works were considered unplayable in their day. Now any conservatory student can play them. Many solo works were composed for one particular soloist. It would have been harder for others. Now there are lots of people who can perform or sing them no problem.

It's funny because I sing in a professional choir. On pieces like this, I am more picky about how the chorus and soloists sound more than the orchestra. I think I will check out the Herreweghe also.

Thanks Tweekerman....Schreier is actually more famous in Europe as a baritone soloist, than a conductor. I like what he does with the choirs he conducts. His background helps him really understand singers.

I've sung under "orchestra" conductors who could care less about how the chorus performs. They hardly even look at the singers (if ever), and offer no assistance. With so many singers, if only a few enter early or late, it really affects the sound. Other than the obvious ones like Robert Shaw; people like Colin Davis and Neville Marriner do a good job with big Choirs. Those recordings with Trevor Pinnock are small choirs; many under 40 singers, down to around a dozen in some.