BaL 27.02.16 - Mozart: Requiem Mass in D minor K.626

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

0930
Building a Library: Nicholas Kenyon recommends a recording of Mozart's Requiem. Commissioned in strange circumstances, the Requiem has been argued over by musicians and scholars for the past couple of centuries; it has also inspired fiction, drama and opera. Left unfinished at Mozart's death, his widow Constanze desperately needed to get the Requiem finished to get it paid for. Two attempts to complete it were made in her lifetime and several more, since. To get to his final choice, Nicholas Kenyon asks 'What is The Mozart Requiem?' It's a knotty question which takes some unpicking and has several answers.


Available versions:

Süssmayr:

Karita Mattila, Sara Mingardo, Michael Schade, Bryn Terfel, Schwedischer Rundfunkchor & Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado (DVD/Blu-ray)

Lucy Hall, Angélique Noldus, Hui Jin, Josef Wagner, Choeur de Chambre de Namur, New Century Baroque Orchestra, Leonardo García Alarcón

Sheila Armstrong, Janet Baker, Nicolai Gedda, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, English Chamber Orchestra & John Alldis Choir, Daniel Barenboim

Kathleen Battle, Ann Murray, David Rendall & Matti Salminen, Choeurs & Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (download)

Katharina Benz-Wicki, Susanne Mathys, Michael Laurenz Müller, Reinhard Mayr, Coro Cantarina, Albert Benz (download)

Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra and Stuttgart Chamber Choir, Frieder Bernius

Marie McLaughlin, Maria Ewing, Jerry Hadley, Cornelius Hauptmann, Chor und Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leonard Bernstein

Krisztina Laki, Doris Soffel, Robert Swensen, Thomas Quasthoff, Kölner Rundfunkchor & Kölner Rundfunk-sinfonieorchester, Gary Bertini

Susanne Krumbiegel, Martin Petzold, Gotthold Schwarz, Jutta Bohnert, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, St. Thomas Boys Choir, Leipzig, Georg Christoph Biller

Stich Randall, Malaniuk, Kmentt & Böhme, Wiener Symphoniker, Karl Böhm

Irmgard Seefried, Hilde Rössel-Madjan, Anton Dermota, Gottlob Frick, Vienna State Opera Chorus & VPO, Karl Böhm

Edith Mathis, Hans Haselböck, Julia Hamari, Norbert Balatsch, Wieslaw Ochman, Konzertvereinigung, Wiener Staatsopernchor & Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm

Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, Peter Schreier, Walter Berry, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper & Wiener Symphoniker, Karl Böhm (DVD)

Mona Julsrud, Wilke te Brummelstroete, Zeger Vandersteene, Jelle Draijer, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Brüggen

Edith Mathis, Grace Bumbry, George Shirle, Marius Rintzler, New Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (download)

Joanne Lunn, Rowan Hellier, Thomas Hobbs, & Matthew Brook, Dunedin Consort, John Butt

Caroline Petrig, Christel Borchers, Peter Straka, Mathias Hölle, Philharmonischer Chor München & Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Sergiu Celibidache

Elizabeth Watts, Phyllis Pancella, Andrew Kennedy, Eric Owens, Handel and Haydn Society, Harry Christophers

Elin Manahan Thomas, Christine Rice, James Gilchrist, Christopher Purves, The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury

Elly Ameling, Barbara Scherler, Louis Devos, Roger Soyer, Antoine Sibertin-Blanc, Gulbenkian Orchestra Lisbon, Choeur de la Fondation Gulbenkian de Lisbonne, Michel Corboz (download)

Ensemble de Lausanne, Michel Corboz

Simone Kermes, Stéphanie Houtzeel, Markus Brutscher, Arnaud Richard, MusicAeterna & The New Siberian Singers & Novosibirsk Opera Chamber Choir, Teodor Currentzis

EuropaChorAkademie & Mendelssohn Symphonia, Joshard Daus

Edith Mathis, Trudeliese Schmidt, Peter Schreier, Gwynne Howell, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Sir Colin Davis (DVD/Blu-ray)

Angela Maria Biasi, Marjana Lipovsek, Uwe Heilmann, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Symphonieorchester und Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Colin Davis

Marie Arnet, Anna Stephany, Andrew Kennedy, Darren Jeffrey, London Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Chorus, Sir Colin Davis

John Alldis Choir, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis (download)

Maria Jette, Jennifer Larmore, James Taylor, Eric Owens, St. Olaf Choir & Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Andreas Delfs

Sandrine Piau, Sara Mingardo, Werner Gura, Christopher Purves, Accentus Chamber Choir, Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey

Elisabeth Grümmer, Gertrude Pitzinger, Helmut Krebs, Hans Hotter, RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor, Chor der St. Hedwig's-Kathedrale Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay

Barbara Bonney, Anne Sofie von Otter, Hans Peter Blochwitz & Willard White, English Baroque Soloists & The Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Gerhard Eder Kurt Uquiluz, Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Hans Gillesberger

Lynne Dawson, Jard van Nes, Keith Lewis, Simon Estes, Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini

Helen Donath, Christa Ludwig, Robert Tear, Robert Lloyd, Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, Carlo Maria Giulini

Judith Howarth, Diana Montague, Maldwyn Davies, Stephen Roberts, London Mozart Players, BBC Singers, Jane Glover

Natalya Dmitrijewna, Warwara Gagarina, Pyotr Maljutijenko, Sergei Krassovsky, Great Symphony Orchestra of the UDSSR, Nikolai Golovanov

Edith Wiens, Gabriele Schreckenbach, Aldo Baldin, Gerhard Faulstich, RIAS Chamber Chorus, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jeunesses Musicales Chorus, Uwe Gronostay (download)

Yvonne Kenny, Sarah Walker, William Kendall, David Wilson-Johnson, Choir of St John’s College Cambridge, English Chamber Orchestra, George Guest

Anna Korondi, Gerhild Romberger, Jörg Dürmüller, Jochen Kupfer, Orchester der KlangVerwaltung, Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern, Enoch zu Guttenberg


Gabriele Hierdeis, Alison Browner & Marcus Ullmann, Kolner Kantorei, Volker Hempfling

Sibylla Rubens, Annette Markert, Ian Bostridge, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, La Chapelle Royale, Collegium Vocale Gent & Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe (download)

Christina Lanshamer, Robert Getchell, & Matthew Brook, Orchestre des Champsélysées, Collegium Vocale Gent & Accademia Chigiana Sienna, Phillippe Herreweghe (DVD)

Northern Sinfonia, Richard Hickox

Jonty Ward, James Swash, Guy Cutting, Jonathan Howard, New College Choir Oxford & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Edward Higginbottom

Emma Kirkby, Carolyn Watkinson, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, David Thomas, Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood

Wilma Lipp, Murray Dickie, Elisabeth Hoengen, Ludwig Weber, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Academy Chamber Choir, Jascha Horenstein

Genia Kühmeier, Bernarda Fink, Mark Padmore, Gerald Finley, Netherlands Radio Choir & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons

Irmgard Seefried, Getrude Pitzinger, Richard Holm, Kim Borg, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper & Wiener Symphoniker, Eugen Jochum (download)

Wilma Lipp, Hilde Rössel-Majdan, Anton Dermota, Walter Berry, Wiener Singverein Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Werner Krenn, José van Dam, Wiener Singverein, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan

Leontyne Price, Hilde Roessl-Majdan, Fritz Wunderlich, Walter Berry, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Singverein, Herbert von Karajan

Anna Tomawa-Sintow, Helga Muller Molinari, Vinson Cole, Paata Burchuladze, Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Singverein, Herbert von Karajan

Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Helmut Krebs & Gottlob Frick, Berliner Philharmoniker & Chor der St Hedwigs-Kathedrale Berlin, Rudolf Kempe (download)

Elly Ameling, Ugo Benelli, Tugamir Franc, Marilyn Horne, Tom Krause, Werner Krenn, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Istvan Kertesz

Rolf Apreck, Theo Adam, Jutta Vulpius, Gertraud Prenzlow, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helmut Koch (download)

Magdalena Hajossyova, Jaroslava Horska, Jozef Kundlak, Peter Mikulas, Stefan Klimo, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Zdenek Kosler

Slovak PO & Choru Zdenek Kosler (DVD)

Sara Mae Endich, Eunice Alberts, Nicholas DiVirgillio, Mac Morgon, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory, Harvard Glee Club-Radcliff Choral Society, Chorus pro Musica, Erich Leinsdorf

(continued in post 2)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(continued from Post 1)

Sylvia McNair, Carolyn Watkinson, Francisco Araiza, Robert Lloyd, The Academy and Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner

Ileana Cotrubas, Helen Watts, Robert Tear, John Shirley-Quirk, Academy & Chorus of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner

Derek Lee Ragin, Gotthold Schwarz, Wiener Sangerknaben, Symphonieorchester der Wiener, Peter Marschik (download)

Pamela Heuvelmans, Barbara Werner, Robert Morvaj, Thomas Pfeiffer, Chamber Choir of Europe & Süddeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, Nicol Matt

Orchester des Dom-Musik-Vereins, Salzburger Domchor, Joseph Messner

Phyllis Curtin, Florence Kopleff, Blake Stern, Mac Morgan, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch

Frank Lopardo, Waltraud Meier, James Morris, Patrizia Pace, Berliner Philharmoniker, Stockholm Chamber Choir, Swedish Radio Choir, Riccardo Muti (download)

Maria Stader, Hertha Töpper, John van Kesteren, Karl-Christian Kohn, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter

Christiane Oelze, Ingeborg Danz, Scot Weir, Andreas Schmidt, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling

Arleen Augér, Carolyn Watkinson, Siegfried Jerusalem, Siegmund Nimsgern, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling (download)

Christine Brewer, Ruxandra Donose, John Tessier, Eric Owens, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Donald Runnicles

Pia Tassinari, Ebe Stignani, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Italo Tajo, RAI Chorus, Rome, RAI Symphony Orchestra, Rome, Victor De Sabata

Montserrat Figueras, Claudia Schubert, Gerd Türk, Stephan Schreckenberger, La Capella Reial de Catalunya & Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall

Lucretia West, Hans Loeffler, Sena Jurinac, Frederick Guthrie, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Vienna Academy Choir, Hermann Scherchen

Lisa Larsson, Herbert Lippert, Elisabeth von Magnus, Harry, Peeters, Ensemble Lyrique, Simon Schouten

Lisa Della Casa, Maria von Ilosvay, Helmut Krebs, Gottlob Frick, Orchester des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks, Hamburgische Staatsoper, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Margaret Price (Soprano), Trudeliese Schmidt (Mezzo-Soprano), Francisco Araiza (Tenor), Theo Adam (Bass), Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Peter Schreier

Miriam Alexander, Anne Buter, Marcus Ullmann, Martin Snell, Leipsiz Chamber Orchestra & Chamber Choir, Morten Schuldt-Jensen

Maria Stader, Marga Hoeffgen, Nicolai Gedda, Otto Wiener, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Singakademie, Carl Schuricht (download)

Arleen Auger, Delores Ziegler, Jerry Hadley, Tom Krause, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw

Margareta Hallin, Anne-Marie Muhle, Brian Burrows, Magnus Linden, St. Jacob's Chamber Choir, Stockholm Conservatory Musicians, Stefan Skold (download)

Carole Bogard, Ann Murray, Richard Lewis, Michael Rippon, English Chamber Orchestra, Amor Artis Chorale, Johannes Somary

Iride Martinez, Monica Groop, Steve Davislim, Kwangchul Youn, Chorus Musicus Koln & Das Neue Orchester, Christoph Spering

Krasnaya, Gorokhovskaya, Marusin & Leiferkus, State Academic Russian Chorus & Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Yuri Temirkanov

Sibylla Rubens, Lioba Braun, Steve Davislim, Georg Zeppenfeld, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks & Münchner Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann

The Totenmesse Double Choir and The Netherlands Bach Society, Jos van Veldhoven

Olga Pasiecznik, Anna Lubanska, Krzysztof Szmyt, Krzysztof Borysiewicz, "Sinfonia Amabile" Choir and Orchestra, Piotr Wajrak

Sara Macliver, Sally-Anne Russell, Paul McMahon, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Orchestra of the Antipodes & Cantillation, Antony Walker

Elisabeth Schumann, Kerstin Thorborg, Anton Dermota, Wiener Philharmoniker, Chor des Wiener Staatsoper, Bruno Walter

Irmgard Seefried, Jennie Tourel, Leopold Simoneau, William Warfield, The Westminster Choir, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Bruno Walter

Lisa Casa, Ira Malaniuk, Anton Dermota, Cesare Siepi, Wiener Philharmoniker, Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Bruno Walter

Dame Felicity Lott, Della Jones, Keith Lewis, Willard White, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, Franz Welser-Most (download)

Iwona Hossa, Urszula Kryger, Adam Zdunikowski, Romuald Tesarowicz, Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Tadeusz Wojciechowski (DVD)


Süssmayr/Robbins Landon:

Gundula Janowitz, Julia Bernheimer, Martyn Hill, David Thomas, Hanover Band & Chorus, Roy Goodman

Hannah Davey, Christopher Turner, OSJ Voices & Orchestra of St John’s, John Lubbock

Arleen Auger, Cecilia Bartoli, Vinson Cole, René Pape, Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti

Arleen Auger, Cecilia Bartoli, Vinson Cole, René Pape, Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti (DVD)

Marina Ulewicz, Barbara Hölzl, Jörg Hering, Harry van der Kamp, Tafelmusik, Tölzer Boys Choir, Bruno Weil (download)


Maunder/Levin/Beyer/Druce/Finnissy:

Elin Manahan Thomas, Christine Rice, James Gilchrist, Christopher Purves, The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury



Levin:

Karina Gauvin, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, John Tessier, Nathan Berg, La Chapelle de Québec, Les Violons du Roy, Bernard Labadie

Susan Gritton, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Timothy Robinson, Peter Rose, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras

Julia Kleiter, Gerhild Romberger, Daniel Sans, Klaus Mertens, L’arpa Festante München (on period instruments) & Bachchor Mainz, Ralf Otto

Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman



Eybler/Sussmayr/Suzuki:


Carolyn Sampson, Marianne Beate Kielland, Makato Sakurada, Christian Immler
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaki Suzuki


Beyer/Levin:

Anna Prohaska, Sara Mingardo, Maximilian Schmitt, René Pape, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Choir & Swedish Radio Choir, Claudio Abbado (DVD/Blu-ray)


[BDruce:[/B]

Nancy Argenta, Catherine Robbin, John Mark Ainsley, Alastair Miles, Schütz Choir of London, London Classical Players, Roger Norrington


C Kohler:

I Solisti del Vento



Beyer/Kunzelmann:

Marie McLaughlin, Maria Ewing, Jerry Hadley & Cornelius Hauptmann, Chor und Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leonard Bernstein




Other:

Anna Maria Panzarella, Nathalie Stutzmann, Christoph Pregardien, Nathan Berg, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Joan Rodgers, Elisabeth von Magnus, Josef Protschka , László Polgár, Concentus Musicus Wien, Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle & Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Christine Schafer, Bernarda Fink, Kurt Streit, Gerald Finley,
Concentus Musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Rachel Yakar, Ortrun Wenkel, Kurt Equiluz, & Robert Holl, Konzertvereinigung, Wiener Staatsopernchor & Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (DVD - also audio download))

Ingrid Schmithusen, Catherine Patriasz, Neil Mackie, Matthias Holle, La Petite Bande & Nederlands Kamerkoor, Sigiswald Kuijken

Marie-Louise Gasser, Catherine Margulis, Francis Gasser, Michel Ormieres, Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs, Orchestre du Palais Royal

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think I'm going to resign.

[Barbirollians]

Gardiner for me - a revelation and remains much my favourite 25 years on . Indeed, I only have that and a devotional Bruno Walter performance on Orfeo live which is a bit slow if beautiful and the worthy Fruhbeck de Burgos version on EMI .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I first had the Karajan/Wilma Lipp on LP. The soprano in question sounds very insecure, despite having been a superb Queen of the Night. Eventually I replaced it with the Edith Mathis/Karl Böhm, which I found to be preferable, though I think BBC SO/Colin Davis is rather fine too.

But as I particularly like the Duncan Druce completion, I have to turn to Norrington, as his is the only recording.

[mikealdren]

I first had the Karajan/Wilma Lipp on LP. The soprano in question sounds very insecure, despite having been a superb Queen of the Night. Eventually I replaced it with the Edith Mathis/Karl Böhm, which I found to be preferable, though I think BBC SO/Colin Davis is rather fine too.

But as I particularly like the Duncan Druce completion, I have to turn to Norrington, as his is the only recording.

I too first learned this from the Karajan/Lipp version but I haven't listened to it for years now.

I'm playing the Druce version tomorrow in St Albans Catherdral, interested to see how it sounds. The sheet music is awful for my aging eyes, it looks like a facsimile of an 18th/19th century edition. Really inexcusable with modern computer systems.

Mike

[Stanfordian]

I first had the Karajan/Wilma Lipp on LP. The soprano in question sounds very insecure, despite having been a superb Queen of the Night. Eventually I replaced it with the Edith Mathis/Karl Böhm, which I found to be preferable, though I think BBC SO/Colin Davis is rather fine too.

But as I particularly like the Duncan Druce completion, I have to turn to Norrington, as his is the only recording.

Hiya Alpen,

Edith Mathis/Karl Böhm is my choice too. I consider Böhm a great Mozartian.

[visualnickmos]

I think I'm going to resign.

Wow!!!!! This has to be a triumph over adversity if ever there was one! Very impressive, EA, very impressive, indeed.....

[CallMePaul]

I have the Butt/ Dunedin consort recording, and like the small-scale forces used - the work was not intended as a concert piece! The recording, in the historic Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, is also ideal for the work and the scale of performance. I will listen with interest to this BaL but I doubt whether I want a large-scale concert performance.

[Nick Armstrong]

I think I'm going to resign.

OMG EA...!

You star

[french frank]

I think I'm going to resign.

Never mind, it's done now. And grateful thanks for this and your regular contributions to the threads

The only one I really didn't like was Fricsay which I found ponderous.

Because I'm a sucker for a good story, it has to be Süssmayr for me too. And Gardiner is the one () I have and it suits me. Good soloists.

[Colonel Danby]

A work of genius certainly , but a problematic one: I've got Sir Col of course, but the only possible account for me is Richard Maunder's edition for Chris Hogwood on Decca L'Oiseau Lyre, in which he gets rid of the terrible Süssmayr corruptions, and we have pure Mozart: a good line up of soloists too.

(Kirkby/Watkinson/Rolfe-Johnson(RIP)/Thomas/Westminster Cathedral Choir (chorus master David Hill), Chorus and orchestra of the Academy of Ancient Music conducted by Hogwood (ditto RIP)). (Decca 411 712-2OH)

Plenty to chew over for Uncle Sir Nick when he chooses his favourite recording on Building a Library...

[Pianoman]

But as I particularly like the Duncan Druce completion, I have to turn to Norrington, as his is the only recording.

I think what Druce does with the Lacrymosa is more convincing than Sussmayer, ( especially the use of the clarinets and the fugal Amen)and it's a real pity more conductors haven't taken up his version.

[Padraig]

Gardiner is the one () I have and it suits me. Good soloists.

Me too f f.

But, from my pirated tape days I also have Barenboim, ECO - also with good soloists;
Ton Koopman, Netherlands Bach Society and Amsterdam Baroque;
A live recording from Vienna 5.12.91, details mislaid.

Must listen again before my last cassette player expires.

[Petrushka]

My favourite by some considerable distance is the recording with the Dresden Staatskapelle conducted by Peter Schreier. It was a Gramophone Award winner back in the day (1984, I think) and if you are not moved beyond measure by Margaret Price's glorious soprano voice then all I can say is that you have a heart of stone.

A truly great recording.