Verdi Requiem - Your Favourite Recording

[Petrushka]

Has this been done on BaL lately? I see I have around 15 versions on my shelves though have no idea how I've managed to acquire so many.

Many treat the work as an orchestral and choral showpiece while the recent Barenboim/La Scala, by contrast, has a more devotional aspect and it comes across as a true requiem.

What's your favourite recording and which one has got the best bass drum?

[Conchis]

Picked up the Barenboim a couple of weeks back. Definitely a performance to live with.

I like both of Giulini's recordings and also Bernstein at the RAH. I remember liking the Solti recording but I've not heard it for many years.

A lot of people rate Fritz Reiner's classic account but I've never heard it.

[Beef Oven!]

Has this been done on BaL lately? I see I have around 15 versions on my shelves though have no idea how I've managed to acquire so many.

Many treat the work as an orchestral and choral showpiece while the recent Barenboim/La Scala, by contrast, has a more devotional aspect and it comes across as a true requiem.

What's your favourite recording and which one has got the best bass drum?

Celi has the best bass drum - no question.

[MickyD]

The HIP account from Gardiner is worth a listen, but the recording levels are such that you have to constantly alter the volume control - if you have sensitive neighours, that is.

[amateur51]

Over the years I have grown to regard Verdi Requiem as one of those pieces that I need to encounter 'live'.

Sir Colin Davis conducted a stonking Proms performance in memoriam Sir Georg Solti who had died very recently and was to conduct this performance in memoriam Princess Diana who had also just died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xEmGAiJI0M

More recently I greatly enjoyed the Proms performance conducted by Semyon Bychkov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlo1I3rx6n4

Terrific performances both

[salymap]

Over the years I have grown to regard Verdi Requiem as one of those pieces that I need to encounter 'live'.

Sir Colin Davis conducted a stonking Proms performance in memoriam Sir Georg Solti who had died very recently and was to conduct this performance in memoriam Princess Diana who had also just died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xEmGAiJI0M

More recently I greatly enjoyed the Proms performance conducted by Semyon Bychkov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlo1I3rx6n4

Terrific performances both

Yes, Colin Davis for me too.

[Petrushka]

Over the years I have grown to regard Verdi Requiem as one of those pieces that I need to encounter 'live'.

Sir Colin Davis conducted a stonking Proms performance in memoriam Sir Georg Solti who had died very recently and was to conduct this performance in memoriam Princess Diana who had also just died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xEmGAiJI0M:

I was present at that performance and will never forget it even if I live to a 1000. The atmosphere was electric and the sense of being present at a great occasion was palpable, My recording of it disappeared ages ago so many thanks for the link.

[Stanfordian]

Has this been done on BaL lately? I see I have around 15 versions on my shelves though have no idea how I've managed to acquire so many.

Many treat the work as an orchestral and choral showpiece while the recent Barenboim/La Scala, by contrast, has a more devotional aspect and it comes across as a true requiem.

What's your favourite recording and which one has got the best bass drum?

Hiya Petruska,

The account I most admire by a large distance is from Carlo-Maria Giulini with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus with Schwarzkopf, Ludwig, Gedda and Ghiaurov recorded at the Kingsway Hall in 1963/64 on EMI/Warner.

Another Giulini recording is with the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Ernst-Senff-Chor Sharon Sweet, Florence Quivar, Vinson Cole & Simon Estes in 1989 at the Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin. A most underated recording on Deutsche Grammophon.

I also play the performance by Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Swedish Radio Chorus & Ericson Chamber Choir with soloists Gheorghiu, Barcellona, Alagna and Konstantinov recorded at the Philharmonie, Berlin in 2001 on EMI Classics 5571682.

Of the newer accounts I rather admire Antonio Pappano with the Orchestra and Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia with solists Anja Harteros, Sonia Ganassi, Rolando Villazón & René Pape from Rome 2009 at Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome on EMI/Warner.

[umslopogaas]

I have, all on LP, versions conducted by de Sabata, Reiner, Serafin (mono and stereo versions), Solti, Barbirolli, Ormandy, Giulini, Fricsay, Toscanini and Leinsdorf. I havent played any of them for ages, but I recall the Toscanini as particularly special. No idea which one has the best bass drum, but since Solti is recorded by Decca, I'd imagine his has plenty of thump. The soloists with Solti are Sutherland, Horne, Pavarotti and Talvela with the Vienna Philharmonic: hard to do better than that!

[Petrushka]

Hiya Petruska,

The account I most admire by a large distance is from Carlo-Maria Giulini with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus with Schwarzkopf, Ludwig, Gedda and Ghiaurov recorded at the Kingsway Hall in 1963/64 on EMI/Warner.

Another Giulini recording is with the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Ernst-Senff-Chor Sharon Sweet, Florence Quivar, Vinson Cole & Simon Estes in 1989 at the Jesus-Christus Kirche, Berlin. A most underated recording on Deutsche Grammophon.

I also play the performance by Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Swedish Radio Chorus & Ericson Chamber Choir with soloists Gheorghiu, Barcellona, Alagna and Konstantinov recorded at the Philharmonie, Berlin in 2001 on EMI Classics 5571682.

Of the newer accounts I rather admire Antonio Pappano with the Orchestra and Chorus of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia with solists Anja Harteros, Sonia Ganassi, Rolando Villazón & René Pape from Rome 2009 at Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome on EMI/Warner.

The EMI Giulini has long been a first choice among the critics but the sound, which was never in the top flight even at the time, really shows its age. There is another Giulini recording which is a live performance on the BBC Legends label and has excellent soloists and good sound. I have both,

The Pappano suffers, to my ears, from an excessively wide dynamic range something that the new Barenboim skilfully avoids. Turn up the volume to catch the opening in the Pappano then get blasted out of the house by the Dies Irae.

The ones I turn to from choice are the two Solti recordings (VPO & CSO), Abbado (BPO) and now the Barenboim which seems to me to have it all.

Anyone heard the new Jansons recording just out on BR Klassik (also DVD)?

[DracoM]

Sutherland / Pavarotti / Price / Talvela // Solti.

For sheer operatic excitement and electrifying orchestra playing.

[tigajen]

Stader/Dominguez/Carelli/Sardi//Fricsay for a truly moving performance

[Don Petter]

Over the years I have grown to regard Verdi Requiem as one of those pieces that I need to encounter 'live'.

Indeed! I did hear Giulini conduct it in Leeds (circa 1961), so he and the Philharmonia are the ones for me. The slight sound problems don't bother me.

His opening is one of the great moments in recorded music.

[visualnickmos]

Sutherland / Pavarotti / Price / Talvela // Solti.

For sheer operatic excitement and electrifying orchestra playing.

[visualnickmos]

I was present at that performance and will never forget it even if I live to a 1000. The atmosphere was electric and the sense of being present at a great occasion was palpable, My recording of it disappeared ages ago so many thanks for the link.

Does anyone know if it was released as a CD? I somehow doubt that it was......?