Stephen Layton's Faure Requiem Tour Monday 6th May 7.30

[Nick Armstrong]

An unusual adjective, even for you old chap. I'd be fascinated to know what you meant!

I imagine Drax is talking about the performance not the piece, and having listened to it now, I think I know exactly what he means - it was a 'ho-hum' reading (perhaps accompanied by a shrug) - competent but not particularly expressive or involving, rather flat and with somewhat unattractive soloists... 'Bof' might be an alternative, French way of expressing it...

[DracoM]

Bof! C'est ca exactement.

[ardcarp]

Mais la pratique de musique chorale en France? Generalement, double Bof.

[Nick Armstrong]

Mais la pratique de musique chorale en France? Generalement, double Bof.

..........except: Accentus !! (I've nattered about their qualities too often here, and my favourite Fauré Requiem) http://www.accentus.fr/english/accen...-accentus.html

[ardcarp]

.except: Accentus !!

Absolutely. And some others....but I did say generalment. I'm not sure you could waltz into any cathedral in France with a pro orchestra and broadcast a live concert with their choir (if any).

If we're going to nit pick SL's performance of the Faure, I thought he took the O Domine section a tad too fast, making it sound inconsequential. For me it's the most moving part of the Requiem, especially leading to that final Amen. (I was lucky enough to sing it under Nadia Boulanger's baton...and she'd more or less got the hang of Faure's emotional landscape.)

[DracoM]

Il y a une tradition chorale courante en France a ce moment? Moi, j'en doute tres beaucoup. Milles cathedrales, milles orgues, mais ou se trouvent les choeurs?

Bof!