The music on this CD is something of a curiosity: the Christmas Mass that Paisiello composed in 1802 for Napoleon's chapel, and three motets. I don't know whether its rather particular character is to be ascribed to the First Consul's taste, Paisiello's comparative old age, the demands of Christmas goodwill, or the onset of peace in Europe at the time (including the Concordat between church and state); but it is music of a blandness, warmth and sweetness that to a modern ear can soon become rather cloying, especially as it is apt to be repetitive and to change key only rarely and narrowly. The pastoral character is represented by the prevalent 6/8 metre and moderate tempos, almost omnipresent thirds, warm and full textures (with much woodwind colouring) and very static basses, leading to a general gentleness and even torpor. There are some perky passages in the Gloria of the Mass, but they don't last long. The Tantum ergo has attractive writing for two violins, and pretty duetting for voice and violin; the Gloria Patri is mostly for high soprano, with some coloratura writing, and orchestra; and the Tecum principium contains interesting music for oboe and clarinet in what is primarily a solo for mezzo-soprano.
It would, I think, be quite difficult to perform this music really persuasively. The orchestral playing is in itself excellent, with the woodwind as skilful as one would expect from a Bohemian orchestra; but the conducting is really rather lifeless – giving shape to these static basses is perhaps problematic, but they surely need not plod quite as leaden-footedly as they do here. Add to that the fact that a good deal of the solo singing is uncomfortable, strained at the top and unsure of pitch, and you will realize that this disc is decidedly one for the specialist or the inquisitive. The booklet, with no texts or translations, and a largely facetious note, is inadequate.'