We are now so accustomed to Bach sounding fleet and limpid that this B minor mass, recorded by Arcangelo and top soloists in St Mary’s, Tetbury last year, comes as a surprise. It takes a while to hear the opening chorus not as earthbound and weighty but as steady, uplifting and thoughtfully balanced. Gradually the ear responds to Jonathan Cohen’s musically intelligent mix of period and mainstream traditions, delivered by top musicians. The use of a countertenor (Tim Mead) is especially poignant in the Agnus Dei. This account will please, especially, anyone trapped between the extremes of Bach performance practice, unsure how to choose a B minor mass from the numerous options on offer.
