Search - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Shaw :: Robert Shaw: Elegy

The Passed Past Master: Elegy as Eulogy

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For sheer beauty of choral singing few conductors either past or present can match the wonders of vocal production, line resolution, intensity of performance and reverence for various composers' writing than the incomparable, much missed Robert Shaw. This CD contains selections from his recordings of the masterworks of choral literature and although many listeners will feel that they wish the entire works were present, this sampler is till a very apt eulogy for Shaw. The works range from Gregorian chant through Mozart (one of the lovliest 'Ave Verum Corpus' on records), Beethoven, Brahms (his definitive 'Schiksalslied'), Verdi, Faure, Durufle, Hindemith and Schoenberg (is there a finer "Friede auf Erden"?). Shaw conducts his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus as well as his Festival Singers on certain tracks. The sonics are rich and lush and the experience of hearing these fragments is to define beauty."

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 02/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"ROBERT SHAW, A CONNOISSEUR OF THE ECLECTIC!

Robert Shaw (1916-1999). In his career which spanned 6 decades and 4 cities, Robert Shaw, transformed choral conducting into an art. He set the standard of excellence for choral music and enjoyed the position as the musical patriarch of musical interpretation in the USA.

This masterfully performed recording displays his musical abilities as well his ability to select a representative group of works of various interest and diversity.



To comment on one of my personal favorites seems appropriate: Gabriel Faure "Requiem,Op.48: IIISanctus" Although Faure (1845-1924)spent half his life in the service of the Church as Organist at Rennes and later Paris, it was because of material necessity, for he was not a conventional believer. So it is strange indeed that his most formidable and well-known work is sacred music. The 'Requiem' is scored for soprano and baritone solo, mixed choir and orchestra. Although the 'Pie Jesu' is probably the most familiar part of it, the special sound of the 'Requiem' is heard at its purest in the Offertoy, where divided lower strings and organ give Faure's calm acceptance of death a peculiar solemnity. The 'Sanctus' on this disc is no less beautiful!!!!



This is truly an incredibly lovely group of songs, and no one does it better than Shaw. His almost uncanny ability to elicit the most perfection from his choirs creates a wonderful scenario for the listener. Shaw was a taskmaster and often unreasonable in his demands, but as often happens,it pays off!

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