Schütz: Opus Ultimum: Schwanengesang
Herreweghe brilliantly honors composer Schütz.
Heinrich Schütz may have been the most important German composer before Bach, said Tim Ashley in the London Guardian. Opus Ultimum, as its name suggests, was his last work. He wrote it at the age of 87, and did not live to see it performed. Far from morbid, the 1672 setting of Psalms 119 and 100 gives 'œthe overwhelming impression of an old man preparing to meet his God in a mood of philosophical calm, yet still filled with a sense of wonder at creation, God's as well as his own.' Schütz explores 'œevery possibility of antiphonal double choirs plus instrumental accompaniment that goes from lute to trombone,' said David Patrick Stearns in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The two-hour-long, 176-verse Psalm 119, made up of 11 motets for double choir, dominates the disc, and is followed by the brief Psalm 100 and radiant Deutsches Magnificat. Early music wind quintet Concerto Palatino joins Collegium Vocale Gent on this definitive recording, said Bradley Bambarger in the Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger. Celebrated Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe coaxes an authentic and quietly haunting baroque-era sound from its 16 voices. 'œIn his mind's ear, the composer surely heard performances similar to those of Collegium Vocale'”meditative but rich, with the choral texture evoking dark wood, amber, and still air.'
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
'The Office' gets a spinoff and the Guinness family gets the 'Peaky Blinders' treatment in September TV
the week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
Hostile architecture is 'hostile — to everybody'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why are federal judges criticizing SCOTUS?
Today's Big Question Supreme Court issues Trump case rulings 'with little explanation'