Well, new to me and reasonably new in general, released in 2009.
This is a piece which I've known for 30-odd years and was relegated in my mind to the stable for old war-horses. Not any more.
I've been absolutely bowled over by the recording by Accentus conducted by Laurence Equilbey on Naïve: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faure-Requie...1281415&sr=8-1
I noticed the reference to it in the review in the current Gramophone of the disappointing new Jarvi performance. The recording was described as being in a class of its own.
As well as the quality of the choral singing, the pacing, the soloists (Sandrine Piau especially, and the violinist in the Sanctus), the recording indeed delivers one of the chief pleasures: the balance between clarity and the acoustic of the Basilique Sainte-Clotilde in central Paris, and between the small orchestra and the gorgeous sounds of the Cavaillé-Coll organ. There are some passages for strings which are transfigured by the glowing, liquid organ line above and around the strings.
The whole thing is completely addictive and together with Germaine Thyssens-Valentin's Fauré Nocturnes has plunged me into a full-time Fauré phase
For French speakers (and even for non French speakers) Naïve's little film about the recording is worth a watch. Laurence Equilbey is a very classy (and rather seductive
) lady. I'd never heard of her or her choir before and shall be doing some further exploring 
Here's the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4t_n4MLDQ
(The filler on the disc is the Cantique de Jean Racine, which sounds a little too glam in its orchestra garb. It's a slight disappointment after the transcendent Requiem and not a patch in the performance of the Cantique for choir and organ alone in this stunning version: http://www.naxosmusiclibrary.com/pre...D=V4879&path=1 )
This is a piece which I've known for 30-odd years and was relegated in my mind to the stable for old war-horses. Not any more.
I've been absolutely bowled over by the recording by Accentus conducted by Laurence Equilbey on Naïve: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faure-Requie...1281415&sr=8-1
I noticed the reference to it in the review in the current Gramophone of the disappointing new Jarvi performance. The recording was described as being in a class of its own.
As well as the quality of the choral singing, the pacing, the soloists (Sandrine Piau especially, and the violinist in the Sanctus), the recording indeed delivers one of the chief pleasures: the balance between clarity and the acoustic of the Basilique Sainte-Clotilde in central Paris, and between the small orchestra and the gorgeous sounds of the Cavaillé-Coll organ. There are some passages for strings which are transfigured by the glowing, liquid organ line above and around the strings.
The whole thing is completely addictive and together with Germaine Thyssens-Valentin's Fauré Nocturnes has plunged me into a full-time Fauré phase
For French speakers (and even for non French speakers) Naïve's little film about the recording is worth a watch. Laurence Equilbey is a very classy (and rather seductive
) lady. I'd never heard of her or her choir before and shall be doing some further exploring Here's the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4t_n4MLDQ
(The filler on the disc is the Cantique de Jean Racine, which sounds a little too glam in its orchestra garb. It's a slight disappointment after the transcendent Requiem and not a patch in the performance of the Cantique for choir and organ alone in this stunning version: http://www.naxosmusiclibrary.com/pre...D=V4879&path=1 )
Why, did he do it himself? Either way, I don't think it works...
)
Sorry to miss you!!
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