The A:N:S Chorus

Váltás magyarra

Discography and reviews

A:N:S Chorus Discography

Jacob Obrecht (1458-1505): Missa Fors seulement, Missa De tous biens Playne, Missa Cela sans plus
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 32319

Pál Benkő, András Demjén, Zoltán Gavodi, Csaba Gyulai, Nigel Heavey, Ádám Kard, Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Miklós Laczkovich, Zoltán Mizsei, Péter Patay, Tamás Pintér, Ferenc Tőkés Bodor, András Soós

Recorded between 17-24 September 2004, Roman Catholic Church at Makkosmária
Recording producer: András Wilheim
Sound engineer: Domokos Tímár
Edited by Zsuzsa Dvorák
Released in August 2005

Alexander Agricola (cca. 1446-1506): Missa le Serviteur, Missa Je ne demande
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 32267

Péter Bárány, Zoltán Gavodi, Nigel Heavey, Péter Patay, Csaba Gyulai, Ádám Kard, Miklós Laczkovich, Ferenc Tőkés Bodor, Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Zoltán Mizsei , Tamás Pintér, András Soós, Pál Benkő, András Demjén, László Heim, György Jólesz

Recorded between: 5-11 September 2003, Roman Catholic Church at Makkosmária
Recording producer: András Wilheim
Sound engineer: István Zakariás
Edited by Zsuzsa Dvorák
Released in June 2004
Sponsored by the Cultural Committee of the General Assembly of Budapest

Jacob Obrecht (1458–1505): Missa de Sancto Donatiano, Missa Sicut spina rosam
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 32192

Péter Bárány, Zoltán Gavodi, Nigel Heavey, Péter Patay, Csaba Gyulai, Ádám Kard, Miklós Laczkovich, Ferenc Tőkés Bodor, Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Zoltán Mizsei, András Soós, Pál Benkő, András Demjén, Tamás Pintér

Recorded between 14-22 October 2002, Roman Catholic Church at Makkosmária
Recording producer: András Wilheim
Sound engineer: István Zakariás
Edited by Zsuzsa Dvorák
Released in June 2003
Sponsored by the Cultural Committee of the General Assembly of Budapest

Selected reviews:

	*www.medieval.org* Among the three best recordings of the year selected by *Todd McComb*
	"Wrapping up the year's best releases of c.1500 polyphony, the A:N:S Chorus returns with a third issue in their Obrecht series. Although this program is not as striking as in their previous Obrecht releases, the addition of two more previously unrecorded masses is critical to a developing understanding of how Obrecht's works present themselves in sound. Only a short time ago, he was even more neglected than La Rue, but now we can begin to perceive some 'standards' of Obrecht's idiom. In this case, the Missa De Sancto Donatiano is an uneven work, based more closely on the style of Ockeghem, whereas the Missa Sicut spina rosam takes a similarly motivated style to a more masterful level. The latter is sure to become a favorite in Obrecht's oeuvre. The A:N:S Chorus continues to be one of the most prepared and energetic ensembles performing this repertory, and the present release does nothing to change that impression."
	Diapason, November 2003 David Fiala
	[The CD was given the highest (5) grade by Diapason]* „L’intégrale des messes d’Obrecht entamné par l’excellent choeur d’hommes hongrois A:N:S est un événement, et a saluer bien bas […]"
	International Record Review, February 2004 Alison Bullock
	„[…] János Bali’s group appeared out of the blue in 1999 with a highly acclaimed recording of two Obrecht Masses ( O lumen ecclesie and Malheur me bat), following it up a year later with the masses Si dedero and Pfauenschwanz, and now it has done it again. This is a shrewd pairing, because both these Masses, although probably written some 13 years apart, show Obrecht at his least Obrechtian, quoting from and emulating the style of the older Ockeghem. The lack of Obrecht’s characteristic thytmic drive and direct expression makes them a challenge to pull off, but ANS Chorus does it with flair and bravado. […] All in all, this is a very impressive disc, and, for specialists, a fascinating foil to the English polish of the Clercs’ Group’s disc."

Alexander Agricola (c.1446-1505): Missa Malheur me bat, Missa In myne zyn
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 32011

Péter Bárány, Zoltán Gavodi, Nigel Heavey, Péter Patay - countertenor
Csaba Gyulai, Ádám Kard, Miklós Laczkovich - tenor
Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Zoltán Mizsei, András Sós - baritone
Pál Benkô, András Demjén, Tamás Pintér- bass

Recorded between 19-21 June and 2-4 July 2000.
Recording Producer: András Wilheim,
Sound engineers: István Zakariás, Csintalan László,
Edited by Dvorák Zsuzsa
Released in May 2001
Sponsored by the Cultural Committee of the General Assembly of Budapest

Jacob Obrecht (1458-1505): Missa Si dedero, Missa Pfauenschwanz
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 31946

Péter Bárány, Nigel Heavey, Péter Patay - countertenor
Csaba Gyulai, Ádám Kard, Miklós Laczkovich, Rezsõ Kutik - tenor
Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Zoltán Mizsei, András Soós - baritone
Pál Benkõ, András Demjén, Tamás Pintér - bass

Recorded in June 1999
Recording Producer: András Wilheim,
Sound Engineer: István Zakariás,
Edited by: Péterdi Péter
Released in December 2000
Sponsored by: the Soros Foundation, Budapest
Available through Amazon.com, CDworld, CDnow
Also available through: HUNGAROTON

Selected reviews:

www.medieval.org Todd McComb: Medieval & Renaissance Recordings of the Year - 2000

"[...] The second Obrecht recording by János Bali's ensemble is certainly no disappointment, forming a worthy successor to the first. Although that first recording made the greater impact, coming out of (seemingly) nowhere as it did with such an amazing confidence and compelling presentation of some of Obrecht's best music, if anything, the next recording is even more abstract and intriguing. [...]"

Jacob Obrecht (1458-1505): Missa O lumen ecclesie, Ave regina caelorum, Alma redemptoris mater, Missa Malheur me bat
A:N:S chorus, conducted by János Bali
Hungaroton Classic HCD 31772

Péter Bárány, Zoltán Gavodi, Nigel Heavey, Péter Patay - countertenor
Csaba Gyulai, Ádám Kard, Miklós Laczkovich - tenor
Zoltán Kalmanovits, András Koncz, Zoltán Mizsei, András Soós – baritone
Pál Benkõ, András Demjén, Tamás Pintér – bass

Recorded on: February 1998,
Recording Producer: András Wilheim,
Sound engineer: István Zakariás,
Edited by Katalin Pusztási
Released in January 1999
Sponsored by: the Cultural Committee of the General Assembly of Budapest
Available through: CDworld, Amazon.com, CDnow
Also available through: HUNGAROTON

Selected reviews:

	*www.medieval.org Todd McComb*
	"[...] The performance is excellent, showing a great command of the music. Although I am not generally in favor of ensembles of this size, they manage to achieve articulation which is more clear than smaller ensembles have done here. The phrasing is forceful & expressive, while maintaining the flow of Obrecht's music over longer structures. It is very impressive, and not the least bit shallow or tentative. [...]"
	*Gramophone (London) October 1999, p. 108., F[abrice] F[itch]: Obrecht Sacred Choral Works*
	"[...] The presumably early Mass O lumen ecclesiae is new to the catalogue, but the choir’s rendition of the later setting on Malheur me bat compares favourably with existing recordings – technically very assured, it contributes a sound-image that captures (better than does The Clerks’ Group on ASV, 5/98) the brooding waywardness of Obrecht’s invention. Worth seeking out."
	Muzsika vol 42. #10. October 1999, pp. 41-42. in: János Malina: Obrecht, Michael Haydn - and what lies between. Thoughts on early music from Hungaroton Classics. (in Hungarian)) .
	"[...] Bali and his choir have produced an enchantingly beautiful disc. [...] "
	*Early Music Rewiew 56. December 1999, p. 20. D. James Ross: Obrecht: Missa O lumen ecclesiae (etc.)*
	"[...] The 14 singers, with four male altos on the top line, give a thoroughly creditable account of both masses and motets, and János Bali demonstrates a deep understanding of the idiom and indeed the musicological context of the works.[...] These are extremely presentable performances of rarely recorded repertoire and are well worth buying."
	*www.medieval.org Todd McComb: Medieval & Renaissance Recordings of the Year - 1999*
	[One of the four candidates for the Record of the Year 1999] "[...] This is direct music-making based on sincerity, not pseudo-dramatic funny stuff, and this group consequently deserves more attention. [...]"
	*Gramophon (London), January 2000, p. 39. , CRITICS' CHOICE / Fabrice Fitch*
	"[...] these performances remind us of just how dynamic and visible the Hungarian early music scene has become."
	*Early Music, February 2000, pp. 125-126., in: Jenny Hodgson: I Fiamminghi*
	"[...] Despite adhering to a composer-based interpretation of the mensural relationships, the ANS nonetheless manages to prevent any lessening of the Obrechtian drama: musical lines are vigorously shaped to give the feeling of a frenetic pace (although technically they are not particularly speedy), while the transposition down a 3rd [...] thickens the texture in slower passages and gives the Mass [M. Malheur me bat] truly caliginous overtones. [...]"

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