Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – BBC Radio 3 Record Review
BBC Radio 3 Record Review
The standard of solo singing is outstanding, beautifully ornamented.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – The Herald review
The Herald
Stripped back performances under John Butt that are fresh and luminous, lithe and alive.
Kate Molleson, Top 20 Classical Albums of 2017
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Observer review
Observer
The recording sounds fresh and clear, emphasising transparency without a big reverberant acoustic.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Financial Times review
Financial Times
Informed by a judicious weighing-up of current scholarship, Butt’s performance is often one voice to a part, giving the music an intimate feel … a virtuoso display of individual talents.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Mail on Sunday review
Mail on Sunday *****
Any recording by Butt is an event. And this one, recorded with a small, hand-picked choir of ten voices, is special even by his elevated standards.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Sunday Times review
Sunday Times
The Dunedin Consort’s 10 voices combine to make a magnificent choral sound.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Gramophone review
Gramophone
With so many Vespers recordings out there, this one joins the ranks of those with both a character of its own and something to say.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – BBC Music Magazine review
BBC Music Magazine
This compelling and insightful album is an outstanding contribution to Monteverdi’s 450th anniversary … Particularly effective is the coloristic sonority of the organ which, by employing the Hauptwerk system, reproduces the sound of an early Venetian instrument.
Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Early Music Review
Early Music Review *****
Given the outstandingly tuned singing and ensemble, the result is to expose Monteverdi’s often dazzling counterpoint in rare detail and clarity … a finely conceived and splendidly executed achievement.
This is a first-rate recording … the sounds of the Dunedin’s strings and His Majestys Sagbuts and Cornetts are exceptionally well-blended and beautifully captured in this intelligent and well-produced recording.
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – BBC Radio 3
‘Absolutely love that recording…the whole recording is absolutely glittering. There’s that sense of really infectious energy that hits you on this recording from the off…Let’s hear some more of what promises to be one the essential recordings of the year.’ BBC Radio 3 ‘In Tune’ (1 November 2016)
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – AUDIOphile Pearls
Entfaltet der anerkannte Bach-Dirigent Transparenz, Drive und große Textverständlichkeit. Musikalisch ist Butts federnder, tänzerischer Ansatz fraglos reizvoll.” AUDIO (January 2017)
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
This is a beautifully crafted performance…There’s an easy flow to the tempos and the glowing singing of the arias is matched by deeply impressive instrumental obbligatos.’ The Sunday Times
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – Gramophone
Gramophone
Common to all Butt’s Bach is an irresistible brightness and freshness, a clarity that fascinates the ear with internal detail, and a glowing sound…this latest gift from the Dunedin Consort is one to go under the tree.’ Gramophone (December 2016)
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – Early Music Review
Early Music Review
The cycle gets off to a splendid start, with the opening chorus introduced by thrillingly incisive timpani and the trumpets sequentially tumbling over themselves with excitement. In the central section luminous, madrigalian textures remind us just why one-voice-per-part seems so inevitably right for this music.’ Early Music Today (December 2016)
Bach Christmas Oratorio Review – BBC Music Magazine
BBC Music Magazine
John Butt’s spruced up Christmas Oratorio has the same sense of freshness as previous releases…’ BBC Music Magazine (Christmas 2016)
