THE CHOIR OF NEW
COLLEGE,
CD Press Notices
Renaissance Masterpieces – Volume One (
“The emotional content is immediate, artful but not artificial, as Higginbottom shapes lines in huge uplifting arcs of sound.”
BBC Music Magazine
“… beautiful sustained and balanced performances, the most gorgeous organ-like sonorities.”
Classic CD
Renaissance Masterpieces – Volume Two (
“The sound hits you immediately … they have never been better than on this disc.”
Classic CD
Renaissance Masterpieces – Volume Three (
Editor’s Choice (The Gramophone)
“… a
distinctive recording indeed … this is music of very high quality. Just as importantly, he leads the
The Gramophone
“… a first-rate, clean and responsive choir and orchestra.”
The Gramophone
“… passionately committed singing and playing from Edward Higginbottom’s honey-toned yet
youthful-sounding choir.
Magnificent stuff, not to be missed.”
Classic FM Magazine
Early One Morning – An Anthology of Folksong – (Erato)
“The fine tone (with a likable individuality in that of the trebles), the intelligent phrasing, clear enunciation and sensitive shading are all admirable.”
The Gramophone
Agnus Dei – a Choral compilation – (Erato) - Gramophone Awards 1997 – Best Selling Disc
“This is one of the most sublime choral records I have ever heard.”
The Organist’s Review
“The standard singing is quite superb, and the unique track listing gives this special album the broadest possible appeal.”
The Gramophone
Nativitas: An Anthology of Christmas Music (Erato)
“A sense of tranquility and emotional bliss is generated from this classical offering.”
The Reminder
“Good tone and balance go with a sure feeling for rhythm and the shape of phrases, so that everything gives pleasure. The recording and its presentation … are admirable”
The Gramophone
William Boyce: Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day – (ASV)
“The New College Choir is on radiant form … I was enchanted throughout.”
BBC Music Magazine
Byrd: Cantiones Sacrae of 1575 – (crv)
“The point made by this recording is that it all sounds natural, uncontrived, magnificent.”
The Gramophone
Renaissance Masterpieces – Volume Four (
“The Choir of New College Oxford is on splendid form, with an even brighter edge than usual in the treble lines and sounding more continental than ever. Higginbottom directs with a fluency that reflects the music’s structures and emotional content alike.”
BBC Music Magazine
Renaissance Masterpieces – Volume Five (
“Above all it is the distinctive sound of New College’s trebles that captures the imagination …”
The Gramophone
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis – (Priory)
“Thrillingly brought off … the revelation of the whole series.”
Church Times
Stanford: Anthems and Motets – (crd)
“Edward Higginbottom
and his splendid choir never made a finer recording than this.”
Penguin Good CD Guide
Handel: Joseph
and His Brethren (with the King’s Consort directed by Robert King) – (Hyperion)
“The choir … produce a sound that is bright and firm and the singing is resolute.”
The Gramophone
Handel:
Alexander Balus (with the King’s Consort directed by Robert King) –
(Hyperion)
“The
New College Choir … are confident, bright-toned and
vigorous, clean in line and well balanced.”
The Gramophone
Coronation Anthems (with the
“….superbly performed with a striking sense of occasion … excellent
performances by choir and instrumentalists.”
The Gramophone
Pergolesi: Marian Vespers (with the Academy of Ancient Music)-(Erato)
“The Choir of New College Oxford … is quite impressive. They are alert, well drilled, and easily
capable of the technical demands placed upon them by Pergolesi’s score.”
Fanfare
“The choir of New College, Oxford is one of the best commercial
recording choirs of our age — and has one of the most impressive
discographies.”
“…brimming
with musicality and finely polished ensemble singing.”
Church Music Quarterly
In Excelsis (A cappella music across five centuries) –
(Erato)
“The rich tone favored by New College Choir here works exceptionally
well … conveys spiritual values without a trace of soporific monotony. Unmissable.”
ClassicFM Magazine
“In Excelsis is a deeply moving record …”
Western Mail
Bach:
St. John Passion –
(Naxos)
Editor’s Choice,
The Gramophone; CD of the Week, The Daily Telegram
“… refreshing and captivating new interpretation …”
The Gramophone
Poulenc, Messiaen,
Villette – (Avie 2084)
“The singing is spirited in the best sense, while the richness of the
recording suits the music to a tee.”
American Record Guide
MacMillan & British Contemporaries – (Avie 2085)
“British sacred composers could hardly ask for better advocates than
Oxford’s New College Choir, one of England’s finest boy-treble choirs. Their smooth and sonorous singing is nicely
recorded in Douai Abbey, Berkshire …”
American Record Guide