Most chorus masters make very dull symphonic conductors--perhaps because they always stress clarity of diction when they ought to letting the music rise to a natural climax, whether or not you can hear the words! Robert Sh... more »aw was no exception, but for Telarc he did make a series of very fine discs devoted to masterpieces of the choral literature, and this is one of them. Perhaps because he trusted this chorus implicitly, he isn't afraid to get up there and really let the orchestra play too. The result is a memorable performance of this popular work. --David Hurwitz« less
Most chorus masters make very dull symphonic conductors--perhaps because they always stress clarity of diction when they ought to letting the music rise to a natural climax, whether or not you can hear the words! Robert Shaw was no exception, but for Telarc he did make a series of very fine discs devoted to masterpieces of the choral literature, and this is one of them. Perhaps because he trusted this chorus implicitly, he isn't afraid to get up there and really let the orchestra play too. The result is a memorable performance of this popular work. --David Hurwitz
"Although Robert Shaw may be a big draw to some, unfortunately this Requiem is severely lacking. As a choral singer who has performed the Requiem, I found many of the movements either too fast or slow, and absolutely did not like his Kyrie--WAY too slow!! For the best version I have found, I would direct the discriminating listener to Academy and Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields, with Sir Neville Marriner conducting. But, if you're a Shaw fan, then this is a good CD. But if you're a Requiem fan, go with Marriner absolutely!"
Powerful and beautiful
Ela | Washington, DC | 04/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This powerful and beautiful recording of the Mozart Requiem is the best CD I have bought in a very long time. I sang the piece and absolutely had to get a recording and I could honestly listen to this every single day and not get sick of it. This piece is so emotional, especially the way Robert Shaw directs. The "salve me" brings to mind images of a person kneeling in supplication and the Dies Irae is as driven and tense as it should be. The finale is grand. If you buy one CD in the next 6 months, this is the one to get."
Disheartening Requiem
D. Seymour | Atlanta, GA USA | 05/31/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"As terrific a choral conductor as Robert Shaw can be, something is utterly missing from his rendition of Mozart's Requiem. It is hard to put your finger on, but I believe what is missing is the spirit of Mozart himself. Mozart's music has energy, backbone and verve, all of which are in short supply on this recording. Beautiful as it sometimes is, Shaw's recording lulls the listener into a stupor rather than invoking awe at Mozart's sublime accomplishment. Saddest of all, the Mozart of this recording sounds uninspired and sometimes altogether lifeless. Although Mozart was nearing the end of his life when he wrote the Requiem, he was by no means in danger of losing his musical talent. In defense of Shaw, there is some fine choral singing to be found on this album. As always, his choir is powerful and precise. The 'Dies irae' hangs ominously in the air like a dark storm cloud. The 'Rex tremendae' is full and voluptuous and the 'Lacrimosa' is breathy and light. The tempi are romantically on the slow side and the modern instruments simply lack the period lustre. I would recommend this recording only to fans of Robert Shaw and his techniques. The recording remains for me an unsatisfying experience as it is a poor representative of Mozart's genius."
Competent, but not great
Ryan Richards | Midland, MI United States | 12/14/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Shaw and his performers don't do anything overtly wrong in this recording. There's actually a lot to like here: the tempi all sound "right" (avoiding the overly rushed or slow interpretations that plague some recordings), the orchestra and choir are both rhythmically together as a group and between individual sections, and the intonation is great. This is a good basic recording of Mozart's Requiem. The problem is that the Requiem is the final work of Mozart's short life, the one most clouded in mystery and despair, and "basic" isn't good enough to make a lasting impression. In other words, not doing anything wrong doesn't necessarily mean Shaw does everything right. I hate to join the "Robert Shaw's a dyed-in-the-wool choral conductor who doesn't know how to get the most out of his orchestra" school of critics, but that does indeed seem to be the case here: while the choir is resplendent and the soloists are fantastic, the orchestra seems to be there mainly to go through the motions and provide accompaniment, when it should be an integral part of the musical whole. There's no "punch" to the sound, too little despair, too little triumph; there isn't anything about this recording that makes it really come to life. This might not be evident until you listen to either of Marriner's recordings of this work, or--particularly--Colin Davis's account with the BBC Symphony. Those recordings go beyond being merely competent; they're passionately moving and technically beyond reproach, and the orchestra and choir blend together seamlessly to deliver a profoundly compelling experience. It doesn't help Shaw's case that the Telarc-recorded sound on this CD is even more muffled and bass-heavy than usual. Bottom line: This is a very solid, technically proficient recording, and I can see where Shaw fans would be happy to have it in their collection. When you're talking about an earth-shattering masterpiece like Mozart's Requiem, however, just plain good isn't good enough."
Shaw is the best
Billie Fredholm | Wichita, KS | 03/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This performance of the Requiem is meticulous and rhythmically brilliant, which is one of Shaw's legacies. I have noticed, over the last thirty years, that conductors often miss the juxtaposition of rhythm in the Rex Tremendae. The strings have double dotted rhythm; the voices have single dotted rhythm. The way Shaw performs it, it's as close to what is written that I've heard. Not exact, but very very close. Stunning performance."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
