Thomas Hengelbrock hat mit dem Profi-Ensemble Balthasar Neumann ein Instrument,sehr anspruchsvolle Werke, wie etwa das DIXT DOMINUS von Händel aufführen, das sehr virtuos ist und dem Sänger einiges abverlangt,zB den Sopranistinnen eine erhebliche Höhe( etwa im Gloria Patri). Hengelbrock hat immer einen höchst lebendigen Zugriff auf die Werke.Trotz starker Konkurrenz, monteverdi choir,Stockholmer Bachchor,taverner choir kann er sich mit seinem ensemble in diesem Kreis sehr gut behaupten,ja man könnte auch schreiben, er hat die Referenzaufnahme dieses Werks geschaffen.
Handel's "Dixit Dominus" must be a harder peice to perform successfully than it looks to be in score. There are more than ten performances available on CD right now, by reputable ensembles all. Of the five I'm familiar with, each has some serious shortcoming. The most enjoyable overall is that of the Monteverdi Choir with John Eliot Gardiner, with the Andrew Parrott/Taverner Choir (incorporating Dixit into a "reconstructed" Carmelite Vespers) as an uncertain second.
The problem with this CD by the Balthazar Neumann Ensemble is the tuning of the soloists, which ranges from uncertain to atrocious. This is all the more surprising in that I've heard all of these soloists, and expecially Constanze Backes, sing spectacularly on other occasions. What on earth went wrong? Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock sets blistering tempi throughout, but the orchestra has no trouble so why should the singers falter? Hengelbrock's interpretation of this motet is fiercely energetic, fiery even, and it would be a delight to hear if only most of the singing were in tune. Alas, helas, ohime, eheu, oy Weh!
The Caldara Missa Dolorosa is an extremely interesting piece, original enough to give Caldara's reputation a huge boost in our times, and it's better performed by far than the Dixit Dominus. It's hard, nevertheless, to recommend only half of a CD.