As Oscar Wilde once averred, all bad art is sincere, but it doesn't necessarily follow that all sincere artists are bad. Philippe Herreweghe is sincere to the souls of his shoes and he is anything but bad. Indeed, that he is so self-consciously sincere only makes him a better conductor, because one gets the sense that Herreweghe would rather die than produce anything less than an ideally formed sonority. Herreweghe's sincerity only helps his 1989 recording of Bruckner's Mass in E minor for chorus and winds with La Chapelle ...
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As Oscar Wilde once averred, all bad art is sincere, but it doesn't necessarily follow that all sincere artists are bad. Philippe Herreweghe is sincere to the souls of his shoes and he is anything but bad. Indeed, that he is so self-consciously sincere only makes him a better conductor, because one gets the sense that Herreweghe would rather die than produce anything less than an ideally formed sonority. Herreweghe's sincerity only helps his 1989 recording of Bruckner's Mass in E minor for chorus and winds with La Chapelle Royale and the Ensemble Musique Oblique because, of all the great nineteenth century composers, Bruckner was by far the most sincere in his religious beliefs. And sincerity blazes from every note of Herreweghe's passionately perfect interpretation. La Chapelle sings with strength and sincerity. Musique Oblique plays with subtly and sincerity. Even Harmonia Mundi's sound is severe and sincere. That it is also a very, very beautiful performance can only help. ~ James Leonard, Rovi
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