Baritone Vocals – Gordon Jones (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7 to 9), Paul Hillier (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7 to 9) Composed By – Perotin* (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, to 9) Countertenor Vocals – David James (tracks: 1, 2, 6 to 9) Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch Directed By – Paul Hillier Engineer, Recording Supervisor – Peter Laenger Ensemble – The Hilliard Ensemble Liner Notes [English] – Paul Hillier Liner Notes [French Translation] – Danièle Robert Liner Notes [German Translation] – Regine Lienhard Producer – Manfred Eicher Tenor Vocals – Charles Daniels (tracks: 1, 7, 9), John Potter (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 9), Mark Padmore (tracks: 1, 3, 7 to 9), Rogers Covey-Crump

Amazon.com essential recording You might expect that Pärt's meditative, detached style--with little distinction between consonance and dissonance, or overt emotion--wouldn't wear well through a 70-minute Passion in Latin without even a break between tracks. (Actually, there's just one.) The roles are distinguished only by scoring: the Evangelist's narration is taken by four singers and a few instruments in various combinations; Pilate is a deliberate tenor; Jesus, a cavernous bass singing very slowly. However, if you listen calmly and attentively, this work will transport you. When Jesus sings (slowly, on a simple five-note scale), "It is finished," and the Evangelist quartet intones on a single note, "And bowing his head he gave up the spirit," it's heartbreaking. The choir's huge crescendo through the final nine-word prayer is stunning. --Matthew Westphal