Cantate Domino, recorded by legendary sound engineer Bertil Alving in 1976, is widely regarded as one of the greatest audiophile masterpieces ever recorded. Opening with Enrico Bossi’s ‘Cantate Domino’ for choir, organ, trumpets and trombones, the choral album includes a number of Swedish folk songs as well as pieces by Handel, Otto Olsson, and others.
Stereophile Magazine Record to Die For
This remarkable album, for many years appreciated for its exquisite sound quality in the recording of choral and solo voices- set a new standard in sound engineering.
A glorious recording — one that has been a favorite among audiophiles since its initial release — Cantate Domino is a collection of religious music primarily intended for the Christmas season.
It was recorded in the Oscarskyrkan, a church in Stockholm in 1976. It features the Oscar’s Motet Choir conducted by Torsten Nilsson with soprano, Marianne Mellnäs and organist, Alf Linder. Some of the selections will be unfamiliar to American listeners but others will be known immediately, even though they are sung here in a variety of languages, French, German and Swedish among them. The choir and organist perform very well, as does the featured soprano soloist who, in fact, sings “O Holy Night” better than I had ever heard it sung before — or since, for that matter. While the bulk of the recording is choral, there are several pieces for solo organ too; the album ends on a non-religious note with Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” sung in English.
Musicians:
Oscar’s Motet Choir
Torsten Nilsson, conductor
Alf Linder, organ
Marianne Mellnas, soprano
Track Listing:
Enrico Bossi
1. Cantate Domino
Joahnn Gottfried Walther
Concerto For Organ in A-Major
2. I. Allegro
3. II. Adagio
4. III. Allegro
Otto Olsson
5. Advent
George Friederic Handel
6. Dotter Sion, frojda dig
(Daughter of Zion, Rejoice!)
Georg Joseph Vogler
7. Hosianna Davids Son
(Hosanna to the Son of David)
Traditional
8. Frojda Dig, du Kristi brud
(Rejoice, you bride of Christ)
Korean Folksong
9. Lullaby
French Carol
10. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
(Christ is Born the Child Divine)
Adolf Adam
11. Julsang (Christmas Song)
Traditional
12. Den signade dag
(O Day Full of Grace)
Franz Gruber
13. Stille Nacht (Silent Night)
Maz Reger
14. Mariae Wiegenlied
Otto Olson
15. Jul (Christmas)
Czech Folksong
16. Zither Carol
Irving Berlin
17. White Christmas
