Britten's War Requiem

[Nick Armstrong]

Well you see things from a certain heightened perspective yourself, Caliban

Speaking as a shorthouse, me, I , myself, like you thought that BB was a tall bloke. He was certainly tall when standing next to Rostropovich, Shostakovich and HM Queen.

You see, it's all about the company you keeps

Was Shostakovich as tiny as HMQ?????

PS I always think of this photo which seems to show DSCH as the tallest



but of course you can never judge from photos due to perspectives, lenses etc...

Does seem that David O was on any view a shorthouse though

[Bryn]

And may I put in a word for the 'original' recording as used for Jarman's film:

[BBMmk2]

That looks like a 'must have', Bryn. I have two recordings of this work. The Rattle and the original Britten. Of which the Britten recording is the much better of the two. Thankfully!!

[Dave2002]

That looks like a 'must have', Bryn. I have two recordings of this work. The Rattle and the original Britten. Of which the Britten recording is the much better of the two. Thankfully!!

I think I'd agree with that. Britten seemed to know what he wanted - http://open.spotify.com/track/4Xh7yR7XVoW18h95PxCNSZ - interesting rehearsal snippet! Is that on the CD set? There are some good things in Rattle's version, but overall it seems less good. Hickox is rather good too, IMO.

I also have Giulini, and I have wondered about the JEG version too. I am contemplating getting the Decca Sound set - which has the Britten recording, or alternatively just buying the Britten WR separately and saving the dosh - at least for the time being.

[Ferretfancy]

Dave2002

The only complaint about the sound of the Britten recording was that the hiss level was rather high, not surprising considering the multiple perspectives involved. I can't say that it troubled me much, either on LP or its first CD mastering, but I understand that the Decca Sound reissue is better in this respect.

[Norfolk Born]

And may I put in a word for the 'original' recording as used for Jarman's film:

Jarman's film is being broadcast on BBC4 at 2230 on Sunday 13th November.

[Mary Chambers]

Jarman's film [of Britten's War Requiem] is being broadcast on BBC4 at 2230 on Sunday 13th November.

Yes, I've just noticed that myself. I'm not very keen on the film, at least I wasn't last time I saw it, but I'm glad it's being shown.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Zooming in on the soloists is widespread. When a recording is made with a more natural convert hall balance (such as the RLPO/Handley VW Sea Symphony) it has to face a barrage of criticism, which is a great pity. Chandos recordings, so good in other ways are often badly affected by over close recording of soloists.

A convert hall - is that a church?

[Colonel Danby]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of Britten fanciers among my fellow posters, I'm afraid that the "War Requiem" really doesn't move me as I think it should: it's a memorable piece of music, certainly, but it's not the best of Ben's output, and by no means among the greatest choral masterpieces of the 20th century. I've heard it several times in concert (including Rostropovich and late lamented Rolfe-Johnson) and naturally I've got Britten's recording on Decca. It just fails to connect, that's all.

I would much rather hear 'Morning Heroes' by Sir Arthur Bliss: this great composer spent five years at the front, and lost his brother Kennard in the First World War. On Rememberance Sunday, I shall haul out Charlie Groves marvellous account with the RLPO, and think of those who gave their lives that we might have freedom.

[Mr Pee]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of Britten fanciers among my fellow posters, I'm afraid that the "War Requiem" really doesn't move me as I think it should: it's a memorable piece of music, certainly, but it's not the best of Ben's output, and by no means among the greatest choral masterpieces of the 20th century. I've heard it several times in concert (including Rostropovich and late lamented Rolfe-Johnson) and naturally I've got Britten's recording on Decca. It just fails to connect, that's all.

I would much rather hear 'Morning Heroes' by Sir Arthur Bliss: this great composer spent five years at the front, and lost his brother Kennard in the First World War. On Rememberance Sunday, I shall haul out Charlie Groves marvellous account with the RLPO, and think of those who gave their lives that we might have freedom.

The War Requiem is a remarkable work, as much I think for the settings of Owen's poetry as anything else, and immensely moving given the right perfomance- but I find Vaughan-Williams' Cantata "Dona Nobis Pacem" equally powerful.

[Chris Newman]

The War Requiem is a remarkable work, as much I think for the settings of Owen's poetry as anything else, and immensely moving given the right perfomance- but I find Vaughan-Williams' Cantata "Dona Nobis Pacem" equally powerful.

Mr Pee, you and I are one with this. Having said that I think that Sir Arthur's Morning Heroes is equally beautiful and touching. I am sure that coming from different angles they both had the same meanings and thoughts about war and sacrifice in mind. I am glad that I heard Sir Arthur conduct his work at the Proms and Benjamin Britten share his work with Giulini. Both occasions have burnt themselves upon my memory. I would love to have heard Ralph Vaughan Williams conduct his Dona Nobis Pacem. I lived just down the road (15 miles) from him as a child but was too young to appreciate how important that was to my tastes and upbringing. I hope that makes sense.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No "wrath" from me, Col: if it doesn't "reach" you, it doesn't reach you, that's all. (Was the Rostropovich performance in the Royal Albert Hall in 1992? If so, I was there, too!) I would disagree with your "by no means among the greatest choral masterpieces of the 20th Century", however.

I also agree with Mr Pee about RVW's Dona Nobis Pacem: glorious piece!

And Chris: You can hear RVW conduct the work - there's a recording from 1936 (my version is on Pearl GEMM CD 9342, but I think it's also available coupled with his recording of the Fifth Symphony on SOMM) with Renee Flynn, Roy Henderson and the BBCSO & chorus. Fuzzy sound, but wonderfully atmospheric!

Best Wishes.

[EdgeleyRob]

I wouldn't be without Morning Heroes,Dona Nobis Pacem or The War Requiem, all 3 glorious works.

[ahinton]

Mr Pee, you and I are one with this. Having said that I think that Sir Arthur's Morning Heroes is equally beautiful and touching. I am sure that coming from different angles they both had the same meanings and thoughts about war and sacrifice in mind. I am glad that I heard Sir Arthur conduct his work at the Proms and Benjamin Britten share his work with Giulini. Both occasions have burnt themselves upon my memory. I would love to have heard Ralph Vaughan Williams conduct his Dona Nobis Pacem. I lived just down the road (15 miles) from him as a child but was too young to appreciate how important that was to my tastes and upbringing. I hope that makes sense.

So am I, as it happens - and, for all that I knew Britten a little and that he was (very surpsrisingly, for me) interested in and encouraging about the work that I was doing during his last years when I knew him, I've had trouble warming to more than a handful of his works from that day to this - but the War Requiem is certainly one of them, along with the Sinfonia da ditto, Cello Symphony, Third Quartet, Bridge Variations, Peter Grimes, Piano Concerto (original version) and a few other things; that's not to say anything in the way of any kind of value judgement but merely to observe a rather more general temperamental antipathy to most of what he did, brilliant tough so much of it was and is.

[Barbirollians]

I like the work but do not see any reason to add to the composer's recording . I do not know either Bliss or VW's works but am intrigued- recommended recordings anyone ?

On a more esoteric note I do have a lot of time for that Cecil Coles recording from some years back - that seemed to make WW1 seem very present.