Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner :: Mozart: Requiem / McNair, Watkinson, Araiza, Lloyd; Marriner

One of the Finest Requiems Available

R. Gerard | Pennsylvania USA | 10/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is undoubtedly the finest recording of Mozart's Requiem I've heard. Having owned several recordings of the Requiem Mass, each having its own distinct style (Karajan, Hogwood, Pearlman, Spering, Christie, Solti) this release by Sir Neville Marriner is the recording one finds him or herself coming back to often.



It's a wonderfully dramatic recording. This comes from the same conductor who recorded the soundtrack to Amadeus, of course. It is also a dark sounding record, while most the period-instrument recordings available of KV. 626 are rather light, airy, and superficial for a death mass. While this may be a powerful modern-instrument rendition, it is not a romanticized as Karajan's, which is a good thing.



The soloists are first rate. McNair's voice is perfect in intoning the "Te Decet" with her explicit calmness, yet tacit darkness and tension that you cannot get from Monica Groop, Ruth Ziesak, or Emma Kirkby.



The conducting is careful and the tempi are perfect. You never need to worry about Marriner going to slow as other modern-instrument conductors do. I have never heard a "Recordare" more radiantly executed, or a "Kyrie" with such driving force, or even a technically challenging movement such as the "Domine Jesu" handled with such precision.



The choir is also the strongest choir I've heard sing Mozart's Requiem. This chorus can invoke fear, while other choirs sound either too large or too amateurish for such a piece.



Regarding sound quality, I have never had a problem with the sound as it sounds just as good as any other record in my collection. Maybe it is the resonance of the record, but it does definitely give the record the a large "ecclesiastical" atmosphere, quite appropriate for the music. This recording does NOT seem to have any sound or noise deficiencies one or two other reviewers point out."

Jumpin Jehosaphat!

A Reviewer | 01/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be darned if this isn't one of the finest CDs I've ever heard. I must be honest - I am a big Mozart fan and had never heard of Sir Neville Mariner. I know, I know, 'How can you call yourself a Mozart fan if you've never heard of Sir Neville Mariner?' Well in retrospect, I suppose I wasn't a *true* Mozart fan until I stumbled across this CD.Anywho, on with the review. The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields Choir is astounding. And with the good Sir Mariner at the head, they can do no wrong. Their performance is impeccable from the slow dark tones of Tuba Mirum to the powerful Rex Tremendae, and everywhere in between. This is not one of those "good for any kind of mood" pieces of music. If you're willing to sit down and listen to the musicality of it all, it will lift your spirits like nothing else. If however, you listen "superficially," odds are it will either depress the heck out of you or perpetuate your current ill state of mind. Don't get me wrong! This is some of the best music in the world! But you must bear in mind that it is a Requiem mass - a mass for dead people. It's fantastic music, but not "happy" music. All in all, this is just about as good as it gets. If you like classical music, and don't already have this recording of this piece, don't leave your seat until you order it. For everyone else, that goes for you, too. I mean that! I want you to have this CD!"

Excellent Recording in the Marriner Style

Russ W. Knize | IL USA | 01/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own 4 recordings of Mozart's Requiem, and this one is one of my favorites. Marriner's version is brighter and quicker than the others I have, giving it more energy. It does have a darker feel in places, as it should being a requiem. For a truely dark rendition, I would have to recommend Karajan.The sound quality of the recording is excellent (DDD). I found myself wishing for more from the tenors in a few places, but that is simply a matter of taste."