We are celebrating Verdi´s and Wagner´s Bicentenaries when great large voices suitable for their operas are almost extinct. So I am very excited to report that Barenboim´s new (and second) recording of the great Messa da Requiem is a total success, with a glorious vocal quartet fully equipped to meet the daunting demands put on it.
Barenboim is not a natural Verdian like Abbado or Muti, but he has interesting things to say, and helped by the inestimable La Scala forces he conducts a fervent and highly charged performance worthy of comparison with the best versions available. In the digital era his main rivals are 2 Brits: Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Antonio Pappano, both throughly excellent versions. Gardiner has probably the finest choir ever, a choir trained in the Baroque who suddenly finds itself sounding like the chorus of La Scala. Barenboim HAS the great chorus of La Scala, who have like no other the Verdi pedigree in their blood, and it shows, every word sung goes as if their lives depended on it.
Anja Harteros and Rene Pape who also sing in the Pappano version greatly improve their previous performances. Harteros is turning into one of the few great dramatic sopranos of our time, equally at home in Verdi and Wagner, she recently sang Il Trovatore in Munich and it was a resounding success, I hope it also makes it to cd. The gorgeous Czech mezzo Elina Garanca is a newcomer to the work, and she is formidable, a regal, Italianate performance that if anything, increases my admiration for her, but even more thrilling is Jonas Kaufmann´s glorious singing. This is his very first Verdi recording, and we are treated to true dramatic Verdi tenor singing not heard since Jon Vickers (Domingo and Pavarotti had lighter, brighter voices, Kaufmann´s is very dark and baritonal, an awesome sound).
The unanimity and seriousness of the whole performance is prove enough of the stature of Daniel Barenboim as a conductor, the Teatro La Scala is lucky to have him as music director.
This performance will be also available on Blu Ray and DVD.
