Collegium 1704, Collegium Vocale 1704 & Václav Luks - Missa Circumcisionis ZWV11; Missa Corporis Domini ZWV3 (2026)

I respect this more than I enjoy it. Zelenka’s writing is unmistakably sharp—harmonically restless, rhythmically twitchy, never complacent—and under Václav Luks the performance is disciplined to the millimeter. Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 know this language fluently, and they articulate it with authority rather than reverence.

That said, the Mass form keeps me at arm’s length. I admire the contrapuntal muscle and the occasional harmonic bite, but emotionally it rarely accumulates into something overwhelming. I’m engaged bar by bar, not carried across the full span. It’s music I listen to with my analytical brain switched on, not something I feel compelled to return to for immersion or catharsis. Strong, serious, historically valuable—but it stops short of pulling me fully inside its world.

Pros

1. High compositional IQ – Zelenka’s counterpoint and harmonic unpredictability keep the music alert and intellectually stimulating.

2. Authoritative performance – Period articulation, choral balance, and rhythmic clarity are consistently excellent.

3. Repertoire value – Rare works, including a modern premiere recording, make this discographically important.

Cons

1. Limited long-form payoff – The liturgical structure diffuses tension rather than building a decisive arc.

2. Emotional distance – More impressive than moving; the affect stays controlled and cerebral.

3. Replay ceiling – I admire it, but I don’t crave it; repeat listens feel optional rather than necessary.

Genre: Baroque
Country: Czech Republic

Final Verdict: 69% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 6th / 49

Highlight: Missa Circumcisionis, ZWV 11: Et incarnatus est – Crucifixus


Made me think of:
The English Baroque Soloists
Collegium Marianum
Monteverdi Choir

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