Duruflé Requiem - Trinity Cambridge - Filmed in Paris - Released on Ash Wednesday

[Petrushka]

We haven't heard it yet!

Ah, but you wouldn't be flagging it up on here if she somehow fell short!

[Keraulophone]

if she somehow fell short!

Not permitted in this cho

[Nick Armstrong]

The Duruflé is in my experience a favourite piece to take on foreign choir tours, as it sounds dramatic even with just organ accompaniment.

I actually prefer the piece performed with just organ. A point I was able to make to Monsieur & Madame Duruflé when I spent time at their flat a couple of years before his death.

This, at the top of my score of the piece, remains a treasured memento of the occasion:

[Dave2002]

Somewhere I have a CD - probably one of the multi-starred versions. It’s a work I’ve never really warmed to, and even a good live performance [I think it was good] recently didn’t persuade me otherwise, and I had rather hoped for a conversion.

Chacun …

[Pulcinella]

I don't know why, perhaps it's a strange harmonic progression, but there are two or three bars in the In paradisum that always jar for me: at the turnover in the vocal score, so the three bars from figure 101 (Chorus angelorum). I think I want a different resolution on the lor of lorum.


PS: Very envious of Nick!

[PeterboroughDiapason]

I actually prefer the piece performed with just organ. A point I was able to make to Monsieur & Madame Duruflé when I spent time at their flat a couple of years before his death.

I prefer the chamber orchestra version, e.g. https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...rufle-requiems

Although I wouldn't be without Durufle's recording with full orchestra - in spite of the singing.

[Pulcinella]

I prefer the chamber orchestra version, e.g. https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...rufle-requiems

Although I wouldn't be without Durufle's recording with full orchestra - in spite of the singing.

Do you know the Andrew Davis full orchestra version?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duruflé-Fauré-Requiems-Maurice/dp/B000025JMX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10DVQ0ZLPIOAR&keywords=Durufle+faure+davis&qid=1677010366&s=music&sprefix=durufle+faure+davis%2Cpopular%2C146&sr=1-1

[Vox Humana]

Do you know the Andrew Davis full orchestra version?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duruflé-Fau...r%2C146&sr=1-1

That's one of my desert island discs. This version isn't bad either. Much as I used to love playing the organ part in my playing days (I don't think I ever got to the end without damp eyes), there's no way an organ can match the colour of Durufle's orchestration. Who called him the best French orchestrator since Ravel? Davis's version first appeared on LP together with a wonderfully sumptuous performance of the Danse Lente from the Trois Danses. I wish he could have recorded all three; it would have been fantastic. Duruflé's own performance really doesn't do them justice.

[Pulcinella]

That's one of my desert island discs. This version isn't bad either. Much as I used to love playing the organ part in my playing days (I don't think I ever got to the end without damp eyes), there's no way an organ can match the colour of Durufle's orchestration. Who called him the best French orchestrator since Ravel? Davis's version first appeared on LP together with a wonderfully sumptuous performance of the Danse Lente from the Trois Danses. I wish he could have recorded all three; it would have been fantastic. Duruflé's own performance really doesn't do them justice.

Nor does the recent John Wilson recording, imho.
Do you know the version on this Apex recording:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7935474--poulenc-organ-concerto-and-alain-durufle-organ-works

[Vox Humana]

Nor does the recent John Wilson recording, imho.
Do you know the version on this Apex recording:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...le-organ-works

No, I don't. Thanks for that, Pulcinella. Another one to buy!

[ardcarp]

Just watched the Duruflé Requiem film made at Église Saint-Eustache on TCC's Youtube channel. Very atmospheric with huge acoustic ambience and a large French organ. Singers and Sid Layton all doing it from memory. One only usually sees the back of his head in TCC chapel...with occasional glimpses of the pencil. However there were shots of his face today, which show how he communicates so brilliantly with his choir. If I had to make a criticism (and I don't really want to) it was that the sound engineering made the S and A (particularly) sounding as if heard from halfway down the nave. Many would like it like that, but I would have preferred a bit more 'presence' from them. T and B came over better as did Sops when loud and high. But it was a deeply 'spiritual' performance....that's the best word I can come up with. Lovers of the piece should not miss it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Wx87CtFPQ

[Vox Humana]

I'm jelly.

[jonfan]

Authentic organ and superb choir and sound but I found the visuals awful, very distracting. Of all Requiems this is not an opera; the choir wanders off for the baritone solo and then wanders back. It all looks as though light bulbs were in short supply and then after the heavenly In Paradisum we watch the singers amble off as though they’re going for a McDonald (as they might be but we don’t need to see that).
There’s a far preferable experience on YouTube with the Lingen performance done on the same tour and visually at one with what one hears of this sublime work. One question, why was in house Sarah Henderson not playing cello in Paris?

[Keraulophone]

the Lingen performance done on the same tour and visually at one with what one hears of this sublime work.

https://youtu.be/O3SVD2uq6f0

[ardcarp]

but I found the visuals awful, very distracting

An example of a film maker showing the production of high art, warts and all. It's been quite an artistic trend for some time now.
I have to say I immediately spotted it for what it was (focus on one of the back desks scratching himself before the performance started) and was thus able to ignore it.

Thanks for that other link, K,