Giuseppe Verdi Fritz Reiner Zubin Mehta - Verdi Requiem (23 tracks) +Album Reviews

PRICE EXCELS IN VERDI'S REQUIEM

MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 07/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never tire of hearing Verdi's "Requiem" and this is the performance I prefer above all others. Originally released on RCA, it is now, for some unexplained reason, on the London Jubilee label. The sound has been remastered beautifully. All 4 solists are tops: In 1970, the year of the original release, there was certainly no finer Verdi soprano around than Leontyne Price and she is in excellent voice. Her tenor is my personal favorite, Jussi Bjorling. The mezzo is one of the Metropolitan Opera stalwarts, Rosalind Elias and Giorgio Tozzi is the bass. Fritz Reiner ably conducts the Vienna Philharmonic: The orchestral dynamics in this recording are really wonderful. Altogether a superb recording, made even more attractive by the addition of Verdi's "4 Sacred Pieces" with Zubin Mehta conducting the L.A. Philharmonic and contralto soloist, Yvonne Minton. It is at a bargain price (2 CD's for the price of 1)so even if you already own a "Requiem" you love, this set is inexpensive enough to buy it too. You'll be happy you did."

Buy it for the solo quartet

keith e. swanson | duluth, mn United States | 09/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The solo quartet of Price, Elias, Bjorling, and Tozzi holds
up against all the competition. In particular, Bjorling's
Ingemsico and Hostias are unmatched anywhere. The price is right. Disregard "crippled by conducting". This was the great
tenors' last commercial recording and he is definitely in top form."

Wow! The most religious experience you could ever expect.

Atticus Finch, Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY | 08/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leontyne Price is a gift from the heavens. I agree with the former Washington Post reviewer, Paul Hume: "She has no equals. Few come close." Both Ms. Price and Reiner triumph in what has to be the most remarkable reading of the Requiem. The emotionality and intelligence of their combined performances is so spellbinding and gratifying, that I am left breathless by the finish line. Bjorling, Elias and Tozzi are also at the top of their form. It is a shame that wherever they recorded it, they could not get a more immediate sound. It seems as if it is all coming to us from just a little too far off.

From the very beginning, we are on a journey that exhausts us in its intensity. How I wish I could have heard Ms. Price live. If by chance she should read this, I cannot express enough in words what I feel about her.

Even if you favor other recordings of this work, this one comes inexpensively, so add it to your library and give it at least three listens. I believe you will be converted."

Bjoerling at his best

keith e. swanson | 07/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what people are talking about when they say Jussi Bjoerling was past his best in this recording. It seems that because it was his last completed commercial recording people think that he must have been old and past his prime. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this recording proves it.This was recorded when he was 49-admittedly the voice was darker than in some of his earlier recordings, but this should not be regarded as inferior. Indeed it was beginning to open up new repertoire for him, sadly cut short by his premature death. This ingemisco is truly wonderful. Passionate yet measured, with ringing high notes, yet full evenness of tone. I don't believe any tenor could better this.As for the others, it would be entirely remiss of me not to mention Leontyne Price as being absolutely wonderful here too. Her voice is so rich and powerful and she does everything perfectly.The other soloists are good. Tozzi puts in an assured performance and I doubt there are many basses with such a fine, rounded tone. Rosalind Elias would perhaps be regarded as the weak link, but this merely serves to show the immensely high calibre of the tenor and soprano in particular.I recognise the problems of the conducting pointed out by other reviewers. I would say that if you listen to the singing you can easily put this minor detail aside, and it is minor, as the brilliant singing of the soloists far outshines anything any conductor could ever do."

Very drammatic

Sungu Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 11/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is one of the bests of all Verdi - Requiem. Recorded in 1959, but sound quality is very good and stereo. Wiener Philharmoniker under the baton of Fritz Reiner, played that tragic requiem with sensitiveness, very impressive. And the Choir, Wiener Musikfreunde is great, amazing performance.

I like especially:

The first movement: Kyrie is a lament, highly pathetic introduction. The 2nd mov: Dies irae (The Day of Judgement) is may be the most terrible of all Dies irae musics. When you listen that movement, you can feel as you are in hell, face to face with Devil! There is a beautiful and very famous mov: Ingemisco, for tenor solo. This is a heavenly and hopeful music. But then, inescapable reality of death comes again with Confutatis, with bass solo and the terrific reprise of Dies irae! And then, the most drammatic mov: Lacrimosa.

There is another Verdi masterpiece: Quattro pezzi sacri (Four Sacred Pieces) for a large orchestra and chorus. Especially the Te Deum is very majestic and worthy listening. The performances of Zubin Mehta and his Los Angeles Philharmonic Orc. and Chorus is very good, their sonorities are very powerful.

It has librettos of all works, too.

Highly recommended."

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