The Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis displays admirable command of the composer’s art. The pieces are mostly miniatures, drawn from multiple decades of Pärt’s output. Several have been recorded before. But the takes by Vox Clamantis always tease out something new. In the finale from ‘Kanon Pokajanen’, they offer a brighter sound than previously heard on ECM. And their renditions of more popular Pärt fare (such as ‘Da pacem Domine’) are dependably excellent. Fans of the composer may have heard as much as half of this program in other interpretations. Yet the performances and engineering here argue persuasively for new experiences of this music.
Seth Colter Walls, Pitchfork
‘The Deer’s Cry’, ‘Von Angesicht zu Angesicht’, ou encore la puissance de ses alléluias déplacent des montagnes de douleur: œuvres religieuses, elles atteignent des recoins intimes aussi bien que des sommets d’intensité, à la manière des cathédrales sonores élevées au temps de la polyphonie . Par le génial et fidèle ensemble Vox Clamantis de Jaan-Eik Tulve.
Elisabeth Hess, La Liberté
Vokalkunst, die das Ensemble Vox Clamantis aus Tallinn (Leitung: Jaan-Erik Tulve), auch mit dem Einsatz vibratolos intonierender Solostimmen, mit großem Einfühlungsvermögen realisiert. Interessant der subtile Gebrauch von Instrumentalkolorit – es drängt sich nie als Eigenwert auf, sondern dient immer der zarten Unterstützung des ganz im Vordergrund stehenden vokalen Anteils.
Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich, Faustkultur
Vox Clamantis boast an exceptional purity and sweetness of tone that perfectly showcases the spare beauty and emotional immediacy of Pärt’s music, as well as its devotional intensity. Vox Clamantis’ account of the title track, ‘Alleluia-Tropus’, and the breathtaking ‘Da Pacem Domine’ are now, in my opinion, the versions against which all future accounts will be measured. No classical collection should be without this utterly gorgeous recording.
Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
Dirigent Jaan-Eik Tulve lässt den Miniaturen die Zeit, die sie zur Entfaltung brauchen, sein Ensemble Vox Clamantis verfügt über die intonatorische Reinheit, aus der die spirituelle Reinheit der Musik erst erwächst, und über die Präzision und Disziplin, die die Mutter der Kontemplation ist. Stück für Stück, Mosaikstein für Mosaikstein fügt sich so das stimmige Porträt eines Komponisten zusammen, bei dem die Kunst der Beschränkung der Schlüssel ist zur Unendlichkeit.
Thorsten Preuß, BR Klassik
Es herrscht wahrlich kein Mangel an Aufnahmen mit Arvo Pärts Chorwerken, doch ‚The Deer’s Cry‘ kann aufgrund des mit Bedacht zusammengestellten Programms, das mehrere Ersteinspielungen beinhaltet, und der fachkundigen Interpretation der estnischen SängerInnen als Referenzeinspielung empfohlen werden
Ingo J. Biermann, Nordische Musik
This programme is a fine mixture of well-known works such as ‘Da Pacem Domine’ and ‘The Deer’s Cry’ as well as première recordings of ‘Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima’ and’ Habitare Fratres’. Of added interest is an a cappella version of ‘Alleluia-Tropus’, written especially for Vox Clamantis and previously heard from them on the Grammy Award-winning ECM recording Adam’s Lament. Basically, with so much rarely recorded material this superbly performed and produced release is a ‘must-have’ for all of Arvo Pärt’s many fans. […] With translucent sound and transcendent performances, this is another Arvo Pärt disc to add to ECM’s already essential catalogue from this composer.
Dominy Clements, Music Web International
It is hard to imagine an ear not being interested by Pärt’s music, especially when it is performed by Vox Clamantis. It speaks with an eloquent yet simple sincerity that cannot fail to arrest even a casual listener, and to invite him or her inside. It works hard for, and earns, the right to be quiet and spare; there’s nothing gimmicky or trivial about this its pauses, its silences, and its many moments in which a single voice shines out like a lonely candle in an otherwise darkened church […] As the world becomes more complicated, and, in many ways, more disgusting – I am writing this as the American presidential election is reaching an orgasm of hate – it is good to know that CDs like this one are available to get us through the worst of it. Very enthusiastically recommended – to just about anyone, really.
Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare
On the printed page, Arvo Pärt’s ‘The Deer’s Cry’ does not look difficult: not too many notes, no tricky harmonic side-steps to negotiate. And yet the level of artistry necessary to achieve the kind of living, breathing performance given here by the Estonian choir Vox Clamantis is a rarity […] The 15 singers sound in complete, comfortable possession of the music and its incantatory intentions – unsurprisingly, as they have extensive experience performing it, and Pärt himself was at the recording sessions. […] this grippingly authentic and superbly sung collection may now be the finest single-disc introduction to Pärt’s music.
Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine