Psalm 100, Op. 106 / Variations and Fugue on a theme of Mozart

"A fine introduction to Reger's unjustly neglected works for choir and orchestra . Too often pilloried for being dull or worthy (even his surname works forwards and backwards, note his detractors), Reger's music has a technical finish and confidence lacking in supposedly greater composers. His Mozart Variations, like his Hiller set, are full of invention and deft orchestral colour. His Psalm setting, too, is a striking work well worth exploring. Valeri Polyansky and his Russian forces clearly believe in this music and give powerful, committed performances."
- Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (April 2002)

Chandos presents a disc containing one well-known and one less familiar work by Max Reger.

Valeri Polyansky and his Russian forces have made a highly successful series of recordings on Chandos.

The rarely recorded Psalm 100 for mixed choir is performed here in a reworking by Paul Hindemith who was a great admirer of the work.

Reger had a reputation as a prodigious organist, conductor and pedagogue, directed various choral societies in Germany, undertook concert tours (such as one to England in 1909) and in 1911 was appointed conductor of the famous Meiningen Orchestra. He was a prolific composer whose work was championed by Richard Strauss. During his lifetime he was one of Germany's most performed composers.