Description
William Steinberg’s recording of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis has never been issued before on CD and is in excellent stereo sound. Along with the superb Cologne Radio Choir, Steinberg used a superb quartet of soloists for this demanding work – Heather Harper (who sang on EMI’s Giulini recording), Julia Hamari, Sven Olof Eliasson and Peter Meven. Both Hamari and Meven were regular performers at all the European festivals, notably under Karajan. Steinberg’s interpretation is one of fiery intensity, majesty and utter fidelity to the score, which was one of his main characteristics as a conductor.