Repertoire: The BEST Beethoven Missa Solemnis(es)

For all its well deserved, mythical reputation for transcendental difficulty, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis enjoys a surprising number of fine performances--once we acknowledge that nothing is going to be absolutely perfect. After all, it’s not the music’s fault if critics (and some listeners) impose on recordings unrealistic, if not impossible, expectations. Anyway, here is a short list of the best versions, encompassing a variety of interpretive standpoints.