STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 136758- LABEL: LSO Live FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
We have no doubt that any collection of classical choral music of a Christian persuasion must include Faure's Requiem although we recognise that there are several excellent candidates from which to choose; this recent release on the LSO Live label may prove to be another to consider. During the 2011 City of London Festival, Tenebrae joined a chamber ensemble from the London Symphony Orchestra at St Paul's Cathedral for a performance of Faure's Requiem. This popular work favours serenity, joy and liberation over the dread and terror employed by many composers in settings of the Mass of the Dead. By adopting a more comforting approach he crafted music of great beauty, in particular the "Pie Jesu". Faure's Requiem fits comfortably on a vinyl LP but leaves purchasers of it on CD feeling short-changed. However on this mid-priced release the "filler" deserves equal billing and, indeed, we would be happy to argue for giving the Bach top billing. Here we get a selection of his chorales interspersed with his Partita in D minor, performed by Gordan Nikolitch, leader of the LSO followed by a reconstruction of Bach's "Ciaconna", highlighting the hidden chorale themes within this fascinating work. Since its release this SACD has been universally applauded with 'Gramophone' making it the preferred Faure Requiem on disc and Classic FM listing it as one of the albums of 2012. When we add the fact that this is a mid-price release there is absolutely no reason for us not to concur and award it ten squares.
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