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Messa da Requiem
For a conductor who would later become known for contemplative—often slow—interpretations, this performance is a welcome reminder of Lorin Maazel's earlier vitality. His reading of Verdi's Requiem is both meticulous and full of drive, demonstrating an acute sensitivity to the needs of singers while maintaining structural clarity and dramatic momentum.
The quartet of soloists is especially fine. Pilar Lorengar brings radiant expressiveness to the soprano's soaring lines, capturing the rapture and pathos written into the part. Christa Ludwig lends earthy elegance to the "Liber scriptus," her refinement never dulling the music's intensity. Nicolai Gedda delivers an effortlessly lyrical "Ingemisco," and Nicolai Ghiaurov anchors the ensemble with a commanding, sonorous bass.
The sound is slightly muffled but does little to diminish the impact of this dynamic and beautifully balanced performance.
Track List
I. Requiem and Kyrie
1. Requiem aeternam
II. Sequence
2. Dies irae, dies illa
3. Liber scriptus proferetur
4. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
5. Rex tremendae majestatis
6. Ingemisco tamquam reus
7. Confutatis maledictis
8. Lacrymosa dies illa
3. Liber scriptus proferetur
4. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
5. Rex tremendae majestatis
6. Ingemisco tamquam reus
7. Confutatis maledictis
8. Lacrymosa dies illa
III. Offertorio
9. Domine Jesu Christe
IV. Sanctus
10. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus
V. Agnus Dei
11. Agnus Dei
VI. Lux aeterna
12. Lux aeterna luceat eis
VII. Libera me
13. Libera me, Domine
14. Libera me, Domine
14. Libera me, Domine
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4.4
Based on 5 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Great Soloists and Conductor!
The soloists in this performance of Verdi's greatest opera are superb. All of them sing beautifully and passionately. One might prefer this or that soloist from another performance in one moment or another, but I would be hard-pressed to name a superior quartet. Maazel's leadership here is far less scattered and mannered than the performances he gave years later. The chorus sings very well too though some of their music is muddied by the recording. The sound isn't bad (we've all heard worse), but one wishes the Pirate Gods had shone a little brighter on this enterprise. The beginnings of most of the movements start a bit late, nothing terrible, but with a performance this good one wants every moment.Nevertheless I'd highly recommend this to any fans of the soloists or of the work itself. Any effort made in listening will be amply rewarded!
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Incendiary yet sensitive
If you want a fire and brimstone Requiem, Lorin Maazel is your guy (and this broadcast has the tooth-rattling bass line to prove it). And yet the singers are accompanied with the most sensitive rubato. With one important exception the soloists are the same as on Carlo Maria Giulini's EMI recording and continue to represent the gold standard. The lone "ringer", Pilar Lorengar, is technically more proficient and less interpretively problematic than her EMI rival, by which I not mean to damn the cherish able Lorengar with faint praise. The sound is marred by periodic zaps, which seem to be a flaw in the transfer, not the original broadcast.
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✓ Verified Buyer
United States
What a performance
Incredible quartet; the interplay of Lorengar and Ghiaurov in the Lacrymosa is stunning. Maazel's conducting is energetic and first-rate and the Sanctus is breath-taking. I wish it were in better sound quality--there's a fair amount of hiss, crackle and noise, so 4 stars instead of 5. But aside from the dodgy sound, it's probably the most outstanding rendition of the Requiem that I've ever heard. Wow.
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✓ Top Reviewer
Hungary
✓ Verified Buyer
United States
Andy Seplow
Great lineup of soloist with the rare opportunity of hearing the great Pilar Lorengar in a piece I'd never heard her sing. The rest of the quartet are well known from other performances and none are standouts because they're all great! And, Maazel is at the helm of a very exciting performance.
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