Search - Brahms :: German Requiem

High hopes let down

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 11/28/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"When I had reviewed the Sanderling/Dresden versions of the Brahms symphonies (which is outstanding), I indicated that I had heard through the grapevine that Mandeal's Brahms should prove to be very exciting.Based on this release, forget it. Even the cheap asking price is too much for this production. The first really bad sign is the lousy engineering. Where are the strings? Is their patina supposed to remind you of cardboard? The orchestra playing, for the most part, is okay, but not much above the ordinary. Too bad, too. Their Enescu discs suggest that they are capable of more.The singing by the choir is good, although not quite what I'm used to. The soloists are a disappointment. I find their renditions irritating after repeated listening.Finally, Mandeal DOES has a grasp of the music, but after you've heard Klemperer, he's in the minor leagues. On that mid-price release, despite its age, you get excellent engineering and a performance worthy of the legendary status it has gained. If the choir is the most important part to you, then Gardiner should not be overlooked, despite his scrawny, undernourished orchestra, which plays well anyway.The Requiem has received many mediocre recorded performances; it's a lot harder to bring off than one would initially think. This release fails to add anything to its discography."