Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Leonard Bernstein, Josephine Veasey :: Verdi: Requiem

Unjustly neglected

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 01/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of Bernstein's few recorded outings with the London Symphony Orchestra turns out a pretty marvellous account of the Verdi Requiem. It has a young Placido Domingo in the tenor part, and he shines. The other soloists are equally impressive, especially Martina Arroyo in the soprano part. She sings the "Libera Me" with great feeling. Bernstein does go over the top(as usual) in the "Dies irae", but in this case it works and actually adds to the drama. The LSO chorus is quite good too. One of Bernstein's best accomplishments."

PERFECTION

L E WILLIS | Salt Lake City, ut United States | 01/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been collecting recordings of this requiem in hopes to find one that really moves me. I didn't know that this was in existance when I bought several others previous to this one. I was disappointed in the new recording with Alagna - musically very good, but no passion and Angela's voice too covered and unemotional. Fritz Reiner's version with a young Price is excellent and thrilling with lots of energy. The singers blend very well. The recording with Caballe and Vickers is very poor with a poorly matched roster of singers that do not blend. Even Caballe is not in great voice either. I blame the actual recording somewhat. I love Zinka so I bought the remastered live recording of Zinka Milanov who does quite well, but she unfortunately drags too much chest up to the high note at the end causing her to lose pitch and control. Disappointing. I then read good reviews about Ormandy's recording with Amara and Tucker. Pretty good. Occasionally Amara's attacks and support leaves her higher notes a little insecure until it takes hold leaving the listener a little uneasy, but it is the best I have every heard her sing. All of the singers are well matched. George London is not as musical as I have heard him before and tends to "bark" his way through some of it. Finally I saw that Arroyo did it with Bernstein. Knowing Bernstein, I thought he would bring a freshness to the work. I was not disappointed at the least. The first track was so incredible, I played it several times. For the first time I actually heard the chorus and all their intricate parts. When the first soloist came in, Domingo, it was pure heaven from there on. The blend is incredible. The orchestra is awesome. Bernstein not only understands the work, but brings out the inner voices of the orchestra with passion and intensity. Listening, one would think that the world was literally coming to an end. Still, the tell tale sign of this great recording loomed towards the end for Arroyo's high note. I have never heard it sung better. I am very happy over this recording. There's no use looking any further. It is perfect, at least for me. It is filled with energy and at times raw emotion. Bernstein brings out the best in each instrument, soloist and chorus. Nothing is overlooked here. What more can I say. Buy it!"

A disappointment for me - sorry!

pyramidcvv | Western US | 07/11/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sure many will disagree, but frankly I found little to enjoy in this Verdi Requiem.



As much as I love the London Symphony Chorus, I was very disappointed at their sound. The bass section was particularly distressing - they literally sounded like untrained amateurs. In their entrances in Requiem and the Libera Me fugue, they didn't even sound like basses.



I have never heard a chorus so closely miked before - you could actually hear the male choristers inhale just before Rex Tremendae. This only made their ragged sound all the worse. And the "4 voce" passage in Libera Me ("Quando coeli movendi sunt") was just plain sloppy.



I realize this is not a Harnoncourt-style "religious" approach. But I found the endless swooping among the soloists very distracting. Oddly enough, Martina Arroyo's Libera Me was totally devoid of any theatrics to the point of sounding almost lifeless. The overall intonation also seemed to stay just a hairline off consistently.



I generally love Bernstein's records - I grew up with them. But this is not one I would recommend.





Two stars for the obvious "star" power of the cast - but not for much else. For Verdi's Requiem, try Giulini, or Muti, or even Solti instead."