Passio - Music For Holy Week & Easter (25 CD)

This set gathers outstanding sacred vocal music from the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras recounting perhaps the most dramatic and moving story in all of the Christian canon: the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. In addition to these masterworks of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries is the St John Passion of Arvo Pärt, the Estonian whose captivating, minimal, crystalline music has made him one of the most-performed living composers in the world. The stunning performances from expert choirs and soloists cover iconic works like Handel’s Messiah, the St John and St Matthew Passions of J.S. Bach, Haydn’s Stabat Mater and Seven Last Words and three of the prolific Telemann’s more than 20 extant Passion settings and several Passion oratorios, along with hauntingly beautiful Renaissance polyphony and lesser-known gems of the Italian Baroque. This unique box-set presents a musical journey through one of the most crucial episodes of Christianity: the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It tells of the deepest sorrow and anguish in the Lamentation and Stabat Mater, the moving story of the Passion, and the luminous joy of the Resurrection and the Ascension. Included are works by Allegri, Byrd, Weelkes, Josquin, Palestrina, Gesualdo, Schütz, Pergolesi, Sturla, J.S. & C.P.E. Bach, Sturla, Telemann, Handel, Arvo Pärt, and many more. Performed by world class choirs and ensemble, like the King’s College Choir, the Clare College Choir, La Stravaganza Köln, Cappella Augustana, Rheinische Kantorei and others. A superb collection of the most moving music ever composed, expressing both the suffering and the consolation of humanity. Recordings date from 1978 to 2013. Contains liner notes by Philip Borg-Wheeler.