His vocal team here, which includes the excellent Sibylla Rubens (lately of the Herreweghe St. Matthew Passion on Harmonia Mundi), Andreas Schmidt, and Thomas Quasthoff--to list only the most familiar--is second to none. In the choral movements, Rilling ensures perfect contrapuntal clarity, aided by an ideal balance between orchestra and chorus. The conclusion of the Credo, for example, permits the trumpets and drums (and even the flutes) to really cut through the texture with the necessary brilliance without ever obscuring the voices. And throughout the work, Rilling's tempos allow the music to breathe naturally, offering excitement without hysteria, and repose without dullness. The two Kyrie fugues sound imposing but never grim, and the six-part Sanctus really swings. After a lifetime of devotion to Bach's music, Rilling has recorded a B minor Mass that serves as a crowning achievement in Hänssler's complete Bach Edition, and a further vindication of his personal, supremely musical view of this composer's immortal music.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com