Britten: War Requiem

[HighlandDougie]

I think the Jansons is worth a punt.

Very, very well worth a punt, even if its two discs make it less competitive than single disc versions. Wonderfully spacious recording (Philharmonie im Gasteig), warm but very clear and with a real sense of spatial placement of the various vocal and instrumental elements, excellent singing from the choirs and, in Mark Padmore and Christian Gerhaher, my new dream team in the Libera Me (much as I like John Mark Ainsley and Chris Maltman for McCreesh). Jansons is at his very considerable best, keeping a firm grip but letting this extraordinary work unfold in a completely unforced and natural way. They've kept some of the (very enthusiastic) applause which makes me wish that I had been there. The composer's own version is sui generis - and in its latest Blu-Ray incarnation sounds almost as if it were recorded yesterday but Jansons makes an excellent adjunct to it, especially with such good sound and excellent singing.

[pastoralguy]

Had anyone invested in the Testament disc of the first performance? Still in its wrapping but I may crack it open tonite.

[BBMmk2]

There's that rather good film of britten's War Requiem. I am not too sure who directed it.

[Bryn]

There's that rather good film of britten's War Requiem. I am not too sure who directed it.

If you mean the one that uses the Decca BB recording as the sound track, and has Lawrence Olivier participating, it was directed by now other than Derek Jarman.

[BBMmk2]

If you mean the one that uses the Decca BB recording as the sound track, and has Lawrence Olivier participating, it was directed by now other than Derek Jarman.

Yes, that's the one! Thank you, Bryn. I strongly recommend people to buy this. Very moving.

[BBMmk2]

If you mean the one that uses the Decca BB recording as the sound track, and has Lawrence Olivier participating, it was directed by now other than Derek Jarman.

Yes, that's the one! Thank you, Bryn. I strongly recommend people to buy this. Very moving.