STIMMUNG
Theatre of Voices/
Paul Hillier, director
Harmonia Mundi 807408 (hybrid SACD)
Three stars

Most modern composers would be thrilled to hear even one recording of their own work. But Karlheinz Stockhausen, who died Dec. 5, 2007, got to hear four different takes on this unconventional vocal work. The structure of the music itself could justify that: “Stimmung” consists of 51 separate sections that can be performed in any order. But be grateful that you can listen to it in small doses.