Now That's Jubilation

The big Mozart 250th anniversary year in 2006 saw the market flooded with releases. One of my token purchases to reflect that was this fine recital ( I think the first under her own name ) by Carolyn Sampson with the Choir of the Kings Consort and the Kings Consort conducted by Robert King. I don't want to comment on the recent criminal conviction of Robert King except to say that I wasn't tempted into a knee jerk reaction to jettison any recordings of his that I had. The title track to the disk is Exsultate Jubilate which is the obvious showstopping piece with the biggest vocal fireworks. Sampson stands up to the demands excellently. She has the kind of sweet soprano voice that I prefer to the full on operatic diva style. It is a voice best suited to early baroque music and Mozart isn't that far removed from those times in many ways. The compositions here are all works written for the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg when Mozart was in his employ, setting various sacred texts. But being Mozart, he can not avoid melody and there is a decidely operatic feel to the pieces. The example of Haydn preceded him and the style is similar to his sacred settings but Mozart takes it that step further towards display and virtuosity. I think the enterprise of the Kings Consort is continuing under another name and direction which is good news since the standard of musicianship they show is outstanding.