Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms :: Mozart: Requiem (1941)

Mozart in times of darkness

-j_c- | [Canada] | 08/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"German choir director Bruno Kittel (1870-1948) occupied a leading place in Europe during the first half of the 20th century. His 'Kittelsche Chor' was founded 1902 and soon became renowned as one of the best choirs in the nation and even in the entire Europe. Kittel is also known for his work with conductors Oscar Fried and Wilhelm Furtwangler (the Berlin 1942 edition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is a robust performance that also includes Tilla Briem). Notwithstanding limited sonics, the 1941 recording of Mozart's Requiem is a moving account; heightened by elite-status choral singing and by the masterly orchestral control of the Berlin Philharmonic, the tableau is not complete without the very good--and sometimes impressive--soloists. This album discloses a trailblazing account of Mozart's justly famous Requiem. Kittel's will remain a classic reading of the masterpiece : Power, tension and the heavenly sense of a tragic era, but not without an unmistakable mozartian temperament. His approach, typically 'germanic' and rather straightforward in character, was a good fit for the Berlin Philharmonic's glorious sound. Kittel also produced some Bach, including a very good version of the StMatthew Passion--of which some excerpts are to be found here. This recording of the Requiem is meaningful because it is one of the first studio recordings (maybe the very first) of the work. It also documents music making during the Nazi regime. The somewhat somber light of the work is reflected powerfully, and despite the precarious quality of sound we do hear a certain amount of details--enough so, i can assure, to enjoy this momentum of sensational musical memorabilia."