Bruckner Spectrum

In addition to nine symphonies, Anton Bruckner also composed a fair amount of choral music, and nine of his Latin motets provide the spine of this album by the Zurich Chamber Singers. The choir is 30-strong, an ideal number to achieve the blend of tonal plenitude and textural transparency evident in Locus iste, the best-known of these settings. Tota pulchra es is another highlight, with its ardent tenor solo and dramatic interjections from the organ. Pieces by the Renaissance virtuoso Palestrina and contemporary composer Burkhard Kinzler set Bruckner’s achievement in an interesting perspective, and conductor Christian Erny’s performances are consistently fresh and coherent.