Britten: War Requiem

[LaurieWatt]

The only thread that I can find of recent times about Britten's War Requiem is the one under Performance where it became a bit bogged down with political ideologies. This request is purely about all your ever knowledgeable and extensive experience of the various versions around. I have Britten's own Decca recording, of course, and Giulini's Prom with Britten conducting the chamber orchestra; also Noseda, Masur/LPO and Hickox.

I am contemplating acquiring either of the new Pappano and/or McCreesh recordings. They have both been very well reviewed and in most aspects they sound as though they are superb. Wearing for a moment my old Gongman hat, could anyone one please tell me how these recordings, respectively, deal with both the Sanctus and the huge climactic moment in the Libera Me. And any other views, on relative merits, would be very welcome, too.

[Petrushka]

I'm especially interested in the respective merits of the Jansons and first performance release on Testament. At the moment I just have the Britten recording plus the Giulini on BBC Legends (not a Prom by the way). We're now in a new era of War Requiem recordings and there would appear to be much to look at.

[Bryn]

I'm especially interested in the respective merits of the Jansons and first performance release on Testament. At the moment I just have the Britten recording plus the Giulini on BBC Legends (not a Prom by the way). We're now in a new era of War Requiem recordings and there would appear to be much to look at.

This one is pretty good too, and was issued as a BBCMM cover disc for January this year. I do not at all concur with the view that Ilan Volkov was in too much of a hurry.

[Stanley Stewart]

Much impressed by the CBSO/Andris Nelsons 60th anniversary DVD performance on 30 May 2012 at Coventry Cathedral. Soloists Erin Wall, Mark Padmore and Hanno Muller-Brachmann/CBSO Chorus and Youth Chorus. Arthaus Musik/Unitel Classica DVD 101 659.

On CD, the original decca recording with separate Britten rehearsal tracks.

The remastered Testament CD, May 1962, Coventry Cathedral performance, previously unpublished, SBT 1490, has now arrived!

[Petrushka]

The remastered Testament CD, May 1962, Coventry Cathedral performance, previously unpublished, SBT 1490, has now arrived!

Would much appreciate a report back once you have heard this, Stanley, as I believe there were question marks over the sound which has prevented previous issue.

[johnb]

There was a CD Review not too long ago which compared two of the recent recordings. I'll see if I can did it out.

[Stanley Stewart]

The remastering only slightly recessed, Pet, but this remains a fine performance and the mono aspect is quickly discounted. I'm not a musician and didn't spot any of the botched entrances as the playing and singing grabbed me from the opening. Both Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in command form but Heather Harper's radiance and soaring voice was a complete surprise. As always, the accumulative power of the work grabs the attention with a vice-like grip and the humanity and pity of war is finally a devastating experience. Quietly sensational. A rare treat.

[amateur51]

The only thread that I can find of recent times about Britten's War Requiem is the one under Performance where it became a bit bogged down with political ideologies. This request is purely about all your ever knowledgeable and extensive experience of the various versions around. I have Britten's own Decca recording, of course, and Giulini's Prom with Britten conducting the chamber orchestra; also Noseda, Masur/LPO and Hickox.

I am contemplating acquiring either of the new Pappano and/or McCreesh recordings. They have both been very well reviewed and in most aspects they sound as though they are superb. Wearing for a moment my old Gongman hat, could anyone one please tell me how these recordings, respectively, deal with both the Sanctus and the huge climactic moment in the Libera Me. And any other views, on relative merits, would be very welcome, too.

Does the 'live' Kurt Masur/LPO not do it for you, Laurie?

[AmpH]

Brief reviews of, and sound samples from, the recordings of Pappano ( Warner Classics ) and the first performance at Coventry ( Testament ) at the Europadisc website :-

http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/112953/Britten_-_War_Requiem.htm

http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/113244/Britten_-_War_Requiem_%28first_performance_from_Coventry_Cathedral%29.htm

Good prices for both recordings too !

[Petrushka]

The remastering only slightly recessed, Pet, but this remains a fine performance and the mono aspect is quickly discounted. I'm not a musician and didn't spot any of the botched entrances as the playing and singing grabbed me from the opening. Both Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in command form but Heather Harper's radiance and soaring voice was a complete surprise. As always, the accumulative power of the work grabs the attention with a vice-like grip and the humanity and pity of war is finally a devastating experience. Quietly sensational. A rare treat.

Thanks for this, Stanley and thanks also to AmpH for the Europadisc review. For many years I had just Britten's Decca recording. Now there seems to be quite a strong field out there. Forgot to mention the BBCMM Volkov disc which I also have but this Testament CD looks like a must buy despite the warts-and-all quality and I think the Jansons is worth a punt.

[LaurieWatt]

Does the 'live' Kurt Masur/LPO not do it for you, Laurie?

It does, actually, right up to the final climactic moment in the 'Libera me', which, imho, is not as climactic as it should be! I suppose that I am hard to please but this moment is so well done in both Britten and Giulini that I am hoping that at least one of these newcomers gets it right!

[HighlandDougie]

I have the McCreesh which, although I have reservations about it elsewhere, certainly delivers in the 'Libera Me' - the climactic moment is very powerful (and reduced me to a blubbering wreck). Well-recorded in a spacious acoustic, it sits well alongside BB's own recording (which, if you have a blu-ray player, sounds magnificent in its latest manifestation). I haven't heard Pappano but was very impressed by Bychkov's recent RAH performance of which a copy in HD sound was kindly supplied to me and which I will be returning to often.

[Barbirollians]

The remastering only slightly recessed, Pet, but this remains a fine performance and the mono aspect is quickly discounted. I'm not a musician and didn't spot any of the botched entrances as the playing and singing grabbed me from the opening. Both Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in command form but Heather Harper's radiance and soaring voice was a complete surprise. As always, the accumulative power of the work grabs the attention with a vice-like grip and the humanity and pity of war is finally a devastating experience. Quietly sensational. A rare treat.

The extracts of her singing yesterday on CD Review were startlingly good.

[amateur51]

It does, actually, right up to the final climactic moment in the 'Libera me', which, imho, is not as climactic as it should be! I suppose that I am hard to please but this moment is so well done in both Britten and Giulini that I am hoping that at least one of these newcomers gets it right!

I have a soft spot for it because I was there with an elderly friend whose last cultural outing it was. It's also a reminder of Masur in better days - I wonder how his heath is at the moment.

Has anyone heard the Ansermet or Ancerl performances?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illuminations-Requiem-Sieben-Fruhe-Lieder/dp/B001OBVAD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385293045&sr=1-1&keywords=Britten+War+Requiem+Ansermet

http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Requiem-Czech-Philharmonic-Orchestra/dp/B00CO2S4XC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385293110&sr=1-1&keywords=Britten+War+Requiem+Ancerl

[Nick Armstrong]

I see that the French critics considered the War Requiem in this evening's 2 hour crit-fest.... I shall try and promote this to the next listen, even though I'm several weeks behind with this programme, and report back...