The 7,310 pipes of the huge Casavant organ used in Praise Parisienne immediately set the stage for what is an unusually good recording. One is struck by the masterful curiosity with which the National Lutheran Choir sings such a body of Mass texts that would surely elicit an approving wink from the Vatican itself. And when is the last time renditions as nice as this have been heard at St. Peter’s basilica? The National Lutheran Choir is the 2007 winner of the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence. As evidenced by this highly professional recording under the direction of David Cherwien, it is a deserved honor. Across the board, the quality of this recording is excellent. All the primary suspects of any French compilation—Duruflé, Dupré, Widor— are allowed to soar as always they do when choral inferiority does not get in the way. And in this case, there is not even a whiff of that.
This “greatest hits” disc is likely to appeal to choir members who have sung one or more of the works presented, or likewise to singers who would like to rehearse at home with a polished performance of an anthem or Mass to be sung in the near future. The choir is very fine indeed, but the repertory is all quite standard with the possible exception of the exquisite O magnum mysterium and Hymne à la Vierge of Pierre Villette (1926-1998) and the Widor Tu es Petrus (not the Mulet organ solo of that title).
The remainder of the choral program consists of the Vierne Messe solennelle and motets of Duruflé, Poulenc, Messiaen, and Dupré. Martin Jean accompanies the Mass and the Dupré Four Motets admirably. In addition, David Cherwien concludes the program with a spirited performance of the ubiquitous Widor Toccata.
The National Lutheran Choir has precision, lovely intonation, and scrupulous diction. The recorded sound quality is most impressive. The liner contains full texts, biographies, and credits.
—Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
(December 2008)
