CD REVIEWS & PERSONAL COMMENTS
CD
REVIEWS
"When presented as poignantly as the Vermeer presents it, the inner
core of the piece is left so exposed that both religious and dramatic power
radiate from within. The tender loving
care that the Vermeer lavishes over every phrase of this unique score is
something quite special to behold...
What gives this new recording by
"There have been several distinguished recordings of this sublime music over the years, but this newest edition by the superlative Vermeer Quartet belongs at the top of the list. Shmuel Ashkenasi, Mathias Tacke, Richard Young and Marc Johnson summon a spine-tingling tautness of rhythm, intonation so impeccable that one cannot but help notice it, lustrous, burnished tone, and a wonderfully long, unbroken line. Conversely, there is plenty of jagged, fragmented energy when appropriate (the earthquake epilogue has enormous pulse and weight). Highly recommended."
The Strad
"The Alden Productions record is an excellent idea; it combines Haydn's string quartet arrangement of these pieces with short sermons related to each of the 'words' by a variety of preachers, including Raymond Brown (author of an excellent study of the biblical narratives on The Death of the Messiah), Kelly Clem, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Marty, and Dallin Oaks. The power of the spoken words in combination with the music is tremendous, probably because they call on different parts of the mind and make for a more complete experience. The preachers here are all fine speakers in their very different ways, ranging from Clem's cool intensity (apt to have a female preacher for the 'Behold your mother' verse) to King's verbal fire. Alden offers two CDs. One is the words-plus-music disc just described. The other is just the music. The timing is close between them because the music-only disc includes repeats. The Vermeer is a first-rate quartet (they did some lovely Beethoven for Teldec a while back) and their playing would be competitive even without the added benefit of the words. With the words, this is an experience unlike any other and well worth hearing."
American Record Guide
"RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF HAYDN'S WORK (headline)... Steeped in the classical tradition and very much up to Haydn's formidable challenges, the Vermeer ensemble presented The Seven Last Words of Christ in a manner which was at times almost beyond criticism in the conventional sense. Certainly, in an account that glittered with fine detail expressed in a range of glowing tone, the quartet responded to the demands of the score with the most extraordinary unanimity of thought and action; it was as if the ensemble drew on a shared musical consciousness. And their playing throughout the evening was informed by a sense of buoyancy, not so much of mood as of momentum; it was a major factor in elevating their presentation to a special category of excellence... This most moving opus was given the sort of reading, a model of what good ensemble playing is all about, that would surely have won the approval of the master himself. Whether evoking anguish, anger, poignancy or pain - or the fury of the earthquake that brings the work to a stirring close - this presentation by the Vermeer Quartet was more than an exercise in communication, startlingly effective as it was on that level. In a more profound way, it struck me as a sort of communion between musician and composer - and that is an experience not often encountered and all the more memorable for that."
The West Australian
"This Grammy-nominated set is built around a beautifully shaped, deeply felt performance of one of Haydn's greatest masterpieces. Presented on two CDs, the first contains both the seven sonatalike movements Haydn composed and the biblical texts that inspired him, read by seven different speakers, including actor Jason Robards. There's also a moving recording of the late Martin Luther King Jr. preaching on Jesus' words 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.' The second CD is Haydn's score only, played with all repeats. Strongly recommended."
"I don't hesitate to say that this is one of the best ensembles that one can hear anywhere today. I don't know what to admire most – a warm, malleable sonority, a supple and precise technique, perfect precision, but above all, phrasing that is always full of sensitivity and great delicacy."
Journal de Geneve
"Haydn would have been delighted... with the Vermeer Quartet, whose world-class credits include a crackerjack Grammy-nominated CD of the Haydn piece. The foursome brought to The Seven Last Words of Christ an intimacy and tenderness that an orchestra couldn't carry off. Primarily contemplative, the work requires intimacy. This quality, combined with Haydn's utter simplicity and uncanny sophistication in the hands of the musicians, made the performance memorable."
The Oregonian
"This is music-making which reveals much of the inner-self: music-making of untamed necessity that goes far beyond that which is merely pleasing to the ear."
Suddeutsche Zeitung
"The overall effect [of the CD] is surprisingly moving. What we have here is the string quartet version, generally regarded as the work's most intimate and eloquent form, with each of its sections prefaced much as they would have been at Cadiz - with an introduction (read by actor Jason Robards) and minisermons by eight well-known religious leaders. Those range from the impassioned rhetoric of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. - a fiery discourse on 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit' - to the quietly dignified utterances of Father Virgil P. Elizondo and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve."
"The superlative playing of the Vermeer Quartet has to be heard to be believed. Ensemble is uncanny, not only in terms of playing together, but for a seamless, flawlessly balanced tone and immaculate intonation. The Vermeer players can melt stones with their introspective playing."
San Francisco Chronicle
"QUARTET MAKES THE EARTH MOVE (headline). On its fourth Australian tour, the Chicago-based Vermeer Quartet continues to uphold its reputation for rich sound, perfect intonation, and the kind of performing unanimity that comes only from long practice in the art of making four instruments sound like one. We know from past hearings that the Vermeer can perform miracles of virtuosity, but on this occasion it is offering a program of monastic austerity – Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ. The Vermeer, with its marvelous consistency of tone and warmth of utterance, took advantage of every opening for variety offered by the score... The Vermeer's reading was as nearly perfect as anyone could wish, with exactly the right emphasis and mood for each movement, superb balance and poise. The large audience was held in rapt attention until the last, loud sounds of the earthquake fell away."
The Australian
“HAYDN’S SEVEN LAST WORDS: TIMELESS AND TIMELY (headline). The Vermeer Quartet’s performance of Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ has become an Easter tradition at Rockefeller Chapel. Their performance last Wednesday echoed some of the feel of the original performance. In Spain, the cathedral was heavily draped in black so that the chamber was lit only by the light of a single lamp suspended from the ceiling. At Rockefeller, the chapel was dimly lit and the quartet performed by the light of two small floor lamps. And as at the original performance, the event included not only the music, but also spoken commentary. In the debut, the commentary was in the form of sermons by the bishop, one preceding each of the small sonatas. At Rockefeller, eight Chicagoans – some religious leaders and scholars, some not – meditated on the meaning of the seven last lines. These commentaries not only offered interpretations of the gospels, but also included analysis that went beyond religious teaching… The Vermeer Quartet was simply splendid, offering detail and passion, grace and intensity. Their musical sophistication and maturity is perfectly suited to the subtle ideas in this large clutch of meditative sonatas concluding with their fiery rendition of the earthquake. The Vermeer’s clean lines, rich tone, and beautiful phrasing all combined eloquently to present Haydn’s musical message. Theirs is surely the last word when it comes to this masterpiece.”
Hyde Park Herald
"The Vermeer Quartet's interpretation seems so nearly ideal that one can more easily appreciate music as universal harmony."
Ruch Muzyczny
Warsaw, Poland
PERSONAL COMMENTS
ABOUT THE CD
"It is difficult to imagine a more appropriate group of theologians and preachers for the Vermeer's Seven Last Words of Christ recording. The makeup of this group suggests not only a certain moral authority, but a spirit of inclusiveness - just as the biblical message itself is meant to exclude no one. At the same time, in a most personal and effective manner, it reflects our religious and social diversity. May this recording bring us closer together."
Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
"A veritable feast for the ear and the mind. This marriage of sublime music and profound theological reflection may be one of the most unique and wonderfully creative presentations I have ever heard. Melody and metaphor mingle to console the deep hunger of humanity for meaning in the face of unrelieved suffering, injustice, and pain. When one considers the scope of the participants' ongoing scholarly, humanitarian, and artistic endeavors - plus the powerful and prophetic words of Martin Luther King, Jr. - this recording takes on the magnitude of an important historical landmark."
Dr. Robert M. Franklin
Candler School of Theology, Emory University
"In our search for more 'contemporary' expressions of worship and music, the Christian church is in danger of losing or, at the least, neglecting the best of its traditions. This new volume of Haydn's The Seven Last Words of Christ will help many to understand that the very best in traditional worship and music is never out of date."
Bishop Herbert W. Chilstrom
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"This performance recovers for modern listeners a lost dimension of this deeply spiritual work: the spoken word. With four musicians from diverse backgrounds and experiences, plus a truly ecumenical group of eloquent Christian preachers, scholars, and leaders, this presentation unites contemporary meditations on Christ's death with profoundly moving music inspired by His final words. For the first performance of this work, a Spanish bishop preached on these words in a cathedral darkened but for the light of one lamp. In a world darkened by violence and fear, suffering and death, this recording comes like a lamp glowing with faith, truth and hope, with words and music spoken and played with eloquence and passion."
Dr. Grover A. Zinn
Professor of Religion, Oberlin College
"An exceptional recording... a rare fusion of word and music... an invaluable audio historical document/treasure!"
Irving Bunton
Minister of Music, Ebenezer Baptist Church
"This performance of Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ is a profound musical statement. The short, carefully considered statements about those words heighten the profundity considerably. Speech often detracts from music, but not this time, since what is said in explaining the words of Christ on the Cross fits so well with the music - and the awe-inspiring occasion that the music evokes."
Professor Mark Noll
Wheaton College
"I was so very moved by the choice of speakers as well as by the music."
Suzanne Flandreau
Center for Black Music Research
"The magnificent performance by the Vermeer String Quartet is enhanced by the meditations from prominent representatives of the theological world, which gives this recording. extra strength and meaning. I recommend it as both a musical and spiritual experience of the highest order."
Jerold D. Ottley
Director, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
“Tender, fierce, quiet, powerful – all the last words and moments of Christ’s Passion are here distilled through brilliant words and unsurpassed music. The Vermeer Quartet has made “The Seven Last Words of Christ” its own. Their imprint haunts all other interpretations.”
Jean Bethke Elshtain
The University of
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