This recording presents a hypothetical reconstruction of the service of coronation of the Doge of Venice. Like all of Mr McCreesh's "reconstruction" recordings of late, the concept is thoroughly grounded in good research and sublime execution. While it may be true that the Praetorius Christmas Mass CD has more raw energy and joy, I find that the acoustic of Roskilde Cathedral tends to wash out some of the tuttis on that recording, and blur the rhythmic articulation and contrasts of sonority. Fortunately on this recording we have a perfect acoustic for the music selected. It is crisp, clear and yet resonantly rich when needed.
The ceremony is presented with the appropriate gravity. Perhpas the choice of polychoral Mass-Settings by Andrea Gabrieli highlights this. They are simpler and more austere than the slightly later works of Giovanni Gabrieli. However, for the pure thrill of sonorous majesty listen to the closing (third) section of the Kyrie.
The instrumentalists are on top form, with the timbre of the sackbutts particularly well-shaped in this recording. As in the Kyrie, the vast closing motet "Omnes Gentes" features some cracking sonorities from them (especially some particularly flatulent bass notes near the end!). This track is, in my opinion, the single best performance of any piece in this repertoire comitted to record, and I have returned to it again and again with never diminishing joy - the balance of static sonority and crisply articulated rhythms, chamber-like intimacy and grandiose rhetoric, is perfectly handled by both performers and recording engineers. Like Mahler 8, only shorter I suppose.
To pick diamonds from amongst pearls may be unneccessary, but another unique joy is the new arrangement for two organs of the motet by Andrea Gabrieli "Benedictus Dominus Deus". This is given a glittering performance and imitates the improvisations of the two basilica organists written about by contemporaries but never comitted to manuscript.
The balance between chant and polyphony is not going to bore anyone in this recording and the small amounts of plainchant are sung with great shaping and sensitivity.
If you want a recording of this repertoire, don't buy the San Rocco recording (I find the acoustic too dry and the performances a little too "intimate" apart from in the very large-scale works), get this one or the Easter Mass at San Marco by the same performers.
Why the Counter Reformation failed with such music behind it will remain a mystery.