Album: Bach, Mass in B Minor – Dunedin Consort (Linn Records)

The Dunedin Consort's premiere recording of Joshua Rifkin's scholarly edition of Bach's B-minor Mass has many attractive features: the emphatic "k" that launches the first Kyrie (the orchestra sounding on the vowel), closely dovetailed count-erpoint, gorgeous playing from David Watkin (cello), Katy Bircher (flute) and Patrick Beaugirard (oboe), and a calm but purposeful sense of narrative.

Instead of an ensemble of soloists, however, the vocal consort is subdued and saggy, even when doubled by the ripieno choir.