Britten's War Requiem

[Mr Pee]

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.

This is the recording that introduced me to the VW, and at the price Amazon are offering it now, you really can't go wrong!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vaughan-Williams-Choral-Works-Ralph/dp/B000002RTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320999621&sr=1-1

[Bryn]

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

It's on BBC4 this coming Sunday at 22:30, by the way.

[Norfolk Born]

Yes - see my slightly less emphatic message #21

[Barbirollians]

I ordered that Hickox VW Dona Nobis Pacem thanks to all - what a striking and moving piece and Yvonne Kenny in particular shines .

[Biffo]

Vaughan Williams conducting 'Dona nobis pacem' and the 5th Symphony has been released on the Somm label (SOMMCD071).

Everyone's responses are different; Bliss' Morning Heroes completely failed to move me but VW and Britten do. Another WW1 related work is Gerald Finzi's Requiem da camera, a short moving work; there is an excellent Chandos release conducted by Hickox.

[Mr Pee]

I ordered that Hickox VW Dona Nobis Pacem thanks to all - what a striking and moving piece and Yvonne Kenny in particular shines .

[ARBurton]

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Coventry Cathedral which I seem to recall this piece was written for. Is there any chance that the BBC might repeat the first performance, if it still languishes in their archives?

[Chris Newman]

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Coventry Cathedral which I seem to recall this piece was written for. Is there any chance that the BBC might repeat the first performance, if it still languishes in their archives?

And, perhaps, Sir Michael Tippett's King Priam premiered the day before the War Requiem in Coventry by the Royal Opera as part of the arts festival to celebrate the opening of the cathedral.

[Petrushka]

And, perhaps, Sir Michael Tippett's King Priam premiered the day before the War Requiem in Coventry by the Royal Opera as part of the arts festival to celebrate the opening of the cathedral.

Testament have just issued a BPO/Barbirolli Brahms 2 given in Coventry Cathedral at about the same time so the omens are good.

[LeMartinPecheur]

It's on BBC4 this coming Sunday at 22:30, by the way.

Any views on the Jarman film?

I tried it and, most unusually for me, gave up after half an hour or so. It just seemed pointless - disconnected 'playlets' where you could see people talking but had to guess what they were saying, while the great music became just a rather irrelevant soundtrack.

Yes, I know that on paper it was directly relevant to the 'War is beastly' theme, but I couldn't see any way that the elements of the visual sequence really locked into the music. At the most basic level, were the visuals ever meaningfully aligned with changes or climaxes in the music? I didn't study this closely at the time but I don't recall so.

Very, very disappointing for me: was it somehow revelatory for anyone else?

[Chris Newman]

Any views on the Jarman film?

I tried it and, most unusually for me, gave up after half an hour or so. It just seemed pointless - disconnected 'playlets' where you could see people talking but had to guess what they were saying, while the great music became just a rather irrelevant soundtrack.

Yes, I know that on paper it was directly relevant to the 'War is beastly' theme, but I couldn't see any way that the elements of the visual sequence really locked into the music. At the most basic level, were the visuals ever meaningfully aligned with changes or climaxes in the music? I didn't study this closely at the time but I don't recall so.

Very, very disappointing for me: was it somehow revelatory for anyone else?

I agree, Martin. I prefer the War Requiem with my own visual images. It is a piece that moves me so much that having anyone else's VIEW forced upon me seems intrusive. There are films by Derek Jarman that I adore, Caravaggio and so on, but the War Requiem touches on nerves that only Britten and Giulini have touched for me.

[Mary Chambers]

Any views on the Jarman film?

I tried it and, most unusually for me, gave up after half an hour or so.

So did I. I thought I'd have another look at it - I've seen it before - and I found I was not looking much of the time, just listening. I can do that any time. The film does nothing for me, and parts of it - the 'choir', for example - irritate me very much. I suppose it might bring the music to people who otherwise wouldn't hear it, so that's something in its favour, perhaps.

[Norfolk Born]

As a matter of (minor) interest, the Radio Times film critic gave it 4 stars and the Telegraph film critic gave it 2. I watched it when it was first broadcast and didn't feel drawn to seeing it again.

[LeMartinPecheur]

As a matter of (minor) interest, the Radio Times film critic gave it 4 stars and the Telegraph film critic gave it 2. I watched it when it was first broadcast and didn't feel drawn to seeing it again.

This is a first - I agree with the Torygraph. AAAAAAGH!!

[Barbirollians]

Testament have just issued a BPO/Barbirolli Brahms 2 given in Coventry Cathedral at about the same time so the omens are good.

Really ? have you heard the BPO/Barbirolli ?