Mozarts Requiem

[jaybee]

This is a modern instrument performance but the Nothern Sinfonia is a chamber sized orchestra so the textures are still full but not heavy or muddy. The orchestral touch is light and they play well with a sensitive accompaniment. The choir is also very good and they have a full, weighty sound. The soloists are also very good and are very pleasant to listen to. Hickox’s pacing is somewhat slower in some places than most others that I have heard. One gets the impression that he is trying to let the music breathe. The music never drags and the performance never sags as a result of this contemplative approach in these slower passages. The variation in pacing coupled with the beautiful choral singing makes for a very engaging listen.

I actually own two versions of this performance but neither one indicates whose completion it is.

I also used to have that version, I believe there was an extract on the "Ultraviolet" virgin classics sampler which I got waaaaayy back when, (certainly pre-condom days in the Virgin Megastore) lovely version if memory serves!

[jaybee]

This is obviously a period instrument performance but the performance lacks no weight because of that. In fact it is quite a powerful performance with great presence. The orchestra plays very well and sympathetically and, once again, we have that lovely texture and bite of the period brass here and there. The pacing is exciting and the music moves along very freely. The tone is devotional and Hogwood gets to the essence of the work. It is a very fine performance which is very enjoyable.
The one issue that I have with it, however, is the use of a boy’s choir. They actually sing very well but they lack a certain weight or body and sound somewhat mono-textural. This is only a small quibble however and the soloists are very fine.

This is a completion by one C. R. F. Maunder of whom I know absolutely nothing other than the fact that he wrote the extensive liner notes. The Offertorium, Agnus Dei and Communio sections definitely all have a different feel to them; suffice to say that I give the nod to Sussmayr!

a fully Historically Informed recording so, if it features a boy choir??

[fergus]

This is obviously a period instrument performance but the performance lacks no weight because of that. In fact it is quite a powerful performance with great presence. The orchestra plays very well and sympathetically and, once again, we have that lovely texture and bite of the period brass here and there. The pacing is exciting and the music moves along very freely. The tone is devotional and Hogwood gets to the essence of the work. It is a very fine performance which is very enjoyable.
The one issue that I have with it, however, is the use of a boy’s choir. They actually sing very well but they lack a certain weight or body and sound somewhat mono-textural. This is only a small quibble however and the soloists are very fine.

This is a completion by one C. R. F. Maunder of whom I know absolutely nothing other than the fact that he wrote the extensive liner notes. The Offertorium, Agnus Dei and Communio sections definitely all have a different feel to them; suffice to say that I give the nod to Sussmayr!

a fully Historically Informed recording so, if it features a boy choir??

Yes indeed, and a lovely version overall.

[fergus]

This is a period instrument performance. It has great pace and power in its presentation. The orchestra plays very well and we again get the lovely bite in the brass. The choral singing is also beautiful and powerful and there is also a very fine line up of soloists. The performance looks in the direction of the devotional in terms of tone even with the sense of urgency that it sometimes has. It really is a wonderful performance.

There is no indication of whose completion this performance is based on but I am assuming it is that of Sussmayr merely due to the way the liner notes read; but I may be incorrect in that.

[fergus]

This is a performance is played by the Vienna Philharmonic which has a sound unique to itself due to the mixed nature of the instruments that it uses. It is also a live performance which was part of a Mass to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death. Given the orchestra it goes without saying that they play wonderfully well and are thoroughly committed to being the driving force behind the performance and Solti certainly drives things along. The choir are also in great voice giving it their all. The soloists are also excellent. In terms of tone the performance leans very much towards the dramatic; it is almost operatic in scale. It really is a big, powerful performance; thunderous in places! For me it is almost too powerful, lacking somewhat in subtlety but I know that others will absolutely love it. I do enjoy it as a complete contrast to my preferred versions.

The performance version is an edition by the famous scholar H.C. Robbins Landon based on Sussmayr, Eybler and Freystadtler.

It should be pointed out that being recorded from a Mass there are over 9 minutes of prayers included between the Hostias and the Agnus Dei. The performance ends with a lovely tolling of a big bell from the cathedral.

[jaybee]

that sounds interesting Fergus...

I might pick that one up! How's the recording?

[fergus]

that sounds interesting Fergus...

I might pick that one up! How's the recording?

I actually had you in mind when I wrote that JB! The recording is very fine and it comes recommended as something that I think you would really enjoy from what I have read!

[jaybee]

cheers!!

[jaybee]

that is an excellent version Fergus... thanks for the heads up...

even via iTunes and (*shame*) Bose it sounds beautiful...

lovely mix of restraint and force in the orchestra, builds a good head of tension!

can't wait to get home to hear it in hifi..!!!

[fergus]

I am delighted that you found it to be a good one....as I said I thought that you might have been interested in it.

I think that these topic specific threads are very interesting and can be quite illuminating by way of illustrating the many different ways of presenting the same work.

Glad to be of help on this one!