La Maîtrise de Toulouse - Frank Martin • Messe pour double chœur. Maurice Duruflé • Requiem (2023)

A new recording of the extraordinary ‘Mass for Double Choir’ of 1922 – 6 by the Swiss composer, Frank Martin, and the first using the new Urtext edition – a work that remained unperformed for nearly forty years after its composition it is now recognised as one of the major Latin choral Mass settings of the twentieth century. Infused with echoes of plainchant, it exploits the resources of two a capella choirs, with the full gamut of choral textures ranging from the austerity of the Kyrie, the richness of the Gloria, the breathtaking virtuosity of the Credo, the brilliance of the Sanctus, to the sublime beauty of the ending of the Agnus Dei. The Martin is coupled with Maurice Duruflé’s universally - loved ‘Requiem’ – the first recording by a French children’s cho ir, and featuring mezzo - soprano Juliette May, a former member of the Maîtrise, and Alain Buet, one of France’s most distinguished operatic baritones, as the two vocal soloists. The Maîtrise de Toulouse was founded in 2006 by the English conductor, Mark Ops tad within the Conservatoire de Toulouse. It consists of soprano, treble, and alto choristers, aged 11 to 15, together with older members and some professional adult singers providing the tenor and bass sections. It is unique amongst the French Maîtrises i n that the children are entirely educated within the Conservatoire as in the English choir school model. In 2017 the Maîtrise de Toulouse was awarded the major Prix Bettencourt for choral music, from the Académie des Beaux - Arts . This is their sixth recording on the Regent label.