Which is the best recording of Bach's Mass in B mi

Great suggestions. I'm looking for a CD. Also, I'm after suggestions for CD's that are technically very well done. I'm new to audio, but not new to choral music, having been a conductor for many years. I would like to hear what a good version, recorded well sounds like regardless of the style. I will probably end up with all the recordings anyway.

Megasam,

My conducting was not very glamorous. I was a choral music director for 15 years at the high school level before I was demoted to principal. I directed many "Messiah's" and Bach Cantata's, but never my favourite, the Mass in B Minor. In fact, I've never performed it. I've always lived in a rural area and just never had the opportunity. I will get the Gardiner/Archiv Mass and also the Monterverdi. I'll let you know how I like it.

I just got done listening to the Gardner/Archiv Monteverdi. The recording is great. I can hear the voices much better. Thank you for all your advice. I can't wait until the "Mass" comes. By the way, are there any suggestions for speakers that work well with choral music? In my short time with this hobby, I'm finding it difficult to find speakers that sound good with choral music, especially with orchestral accompaniment. I've auditioned PSB, B&W, Magnapan(sp), Paradigm, ProAc, and Thiel in the $1,500 to $2,500 range. Any suggestions?

Timwat,

Thanks for your post. What I'm listening for is detail and separation in the choral parts without being muddied up with bass. So far almost every speaker I've listened to has sounded muddy, especially when the choral parts are introduced. The PSB Platinum T8 were the only ones that I thought produced the sound I was looking for. They were $7,000 and out of my price range. The Maggies were indeed the 1.6. They were probably the next best, but the highs seem to scream at me. They only sounded detailed at high volume levels. Today I listened to B&W 604's with a Yamaha amp like mine. To date, they have the sound I like best. Not good enough to buy mind you. I'm still searching. Understand, I'm new to this and I suspect I don't know what to listen for, or there may be some quality in a cheaper speaker that fools a newbie. I have rambled here and I suspect this subject has become a thread for the Speaker Section. Anyway, I received the Gardiner Mass and it is awsome. The smaller choral group and orchestra sound much better on my small speakers. Thanks to all for the suggestions.