Album

In 1955 and at the peak of his postwar powers, Karl Böhm recorded Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Berlin Philharmonic with an all-star cast of soloists. It is a great and powerful performance: tightly argued, superbly played, fabulously sung, and very dramatic. Deutsche Grammophon's original mono recording was clear but a little distant, and the digital remastering keeps the clarity and brings the performers a little closer to the listener. In every way that matters, this is a great Missa Solemnis. The thing is, how many recordings of the Missa Solemnis does anyone want or need? There's Böhm's later 1974 with the Vienna Philharmonic, a deeper and more transcendent performance. And then there's the furious Toscanini, the lyrical Jochum, the loving Giulini, and, of course, the sublime 1965 Klemperer. If one were to collect recordings of the Missa Solemnis—and since it is beyond all debate Beethoven's greatest work, an argument could be made for having at least a couple dozen—Böhm's 1955 recording deserves a place of honor on that capacious shelf. But if you don't reckon you need more than a half-dozen recordings of the Missa Solemnis, then the 1955 Böhm probably doesn't make the cut.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Mass in D, Op.123 (a4, 'Missa Solemnis') Work Recorded 1955 1:22:31 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Böhm Conductor, Siegfried Borries Violin, Maria Stader Soprano, Mariana Radev Contralto, Josef Greindl Bass, Chor der Hedwigs-Kathedrale Chorus/Choir, Wolfgang Meyer Organ, Anton Dermota Tenor
1	1a.Kyrie (Assai sostenuto): Kyrie eleison 1	4:10			$0.99
2	1b.Kyrie (Assai sostenuto): Christe eleison	1:50			$0.49
3	1c.Kyrie (Assai sostenuto): Kyrie eleison 2	4:49			$0.99
4	2a.Gloria (Allegro vivace): Gloria in excelsis Deo	5:08			$0.99
5	2b.Gloria (Allegro vivace): Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis	6:07			$0.99
6	2c.Gloria (Allegro vivace): Quoniam tu solus sanctus	1:11			$0.49
7	2d.Gloria (Allegro vivace): In gloria Dei Patris. Amen	3:05			$0.99
8	2e.Gloria (Allegro vivace): Amen, Amen, in gloria Dei Patris. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus	2:16			$0.99
9	3a.Credo (Allegro ma non troppo): Credo in unum Deum	4:18			$0.99
10	3.Credo (Allegro ma non troppo)	6:23			$0.99
11	3c.Credo (Allegro ma non troppo): Et ascendit in coelum	2:44			$0.99
12	3d.Credo (Allegro ma non troppo): Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen	4:00			$0.99
13	3e.Credo (Allegro ma non troppo): Amen, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen	2:58			$0.99

CD 2 of 2
1	4a.Sanctus (Adagio): Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus, Deus Sabaoth	2:42			$0.99
2	4b.Sanctus (Adagio): Pleni sunt coeli et terra	1:08			$0.49
3	4c.Sanctus (Adagio): Praeludium	1:55			$0.49
4	4d.Sanctus (Adagio): Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini	10:43			$1.99
5	5a.Agnus Dei (Adagio): Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi	7:41			$1.49
6	5b.Agnus Dei (Adagio): Dona nobis pacem	2:22			$0.99
7	5c.Agnus Dei (Adagio): Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi	3:05			$0.99
8	5d.Agnus Dei (Presto): Dona nobis pacem 2	3:56			$0.99
Max Reger Composer Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Mozart, Op.132 Work Recorded 1956 33:36 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Böhm Conductor
9	1.Thema: Andante grazioso	2:45			$0.99
10	2.Variation 1: L'istesso tempo	2:36			$0.99
11	3.Variation 2: Poco agitato	1:59			$0.49
12	4.Variation 3: Con moto	1:21			$0.49
13	5.Variation 4: Vivace	0:43			$0.49
14	6.Variation 5: Quasi Presto	1:41			$0.49
15	7.Variation 6: Sostenuto	2:39			$0.99
16	8.Variation 7: Andante grazioso	2:55			$0.99
17	9.Variation 8: Molto sostenuto	7:01			$1.49
18	10.Fugue: Allegretto grazioso	9:56			$1.49