Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Istvan Kertesz, Marilyn Horne :: Mozart: Requiem

Excellent Budget "Requiem"

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Decca/London's "Weekend Classics" CD line is the ugly duckling of budget lines. Corny covers, non-existent liner notes and generally only mediocre performances by its second tier soloists and conductors. The Sony Essential Classics series and the EMI Seraphim series have got it beaten hands down. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and this Mozart "Requiem" by Istvan Kertesz and the Vienna Philharmonic is one such case. While not the best in its price class -- that would be the Giulini on EMI Seraphim -- Kertesz's mid-60s performance is a close second and certainly better than both recent accounts featured in the Sony Essential Classics series. It's a tragedy that Kertesz died in 1973 -- drowning while swimming in the Mediterranean -- at the age of 43. While most conductors live to a ripe old age, too many others have been plucked from us in their prime -- Argenta, Cantelli, Fricsay, and Kertesz among them. Savor the precious few recordings these greats left us."

Excellent recording!

Fernando | 04/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is, certainly, the only CD of that collection (London/Decca Weekend Classics) which I can rate 5 stars. The Vienna State Opera Choir (or Wiener Staatsopernchor, in German) is one of my favourite choir ensembles and it's powerful voices are simply marvellous! And for that price it becomes even more attractive!"