Search - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Thomas Hemsley, Gabriel Faure :: Gabriel Faure: Requiem; Pavane; Bach: Magnificat

An admission

September_Goldenrod | 06/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First I have to admit that I have not bought this CD, but have bought a CD with this recording of Faure's Requiem on a CD with two other requiem masses.While this is by no means the best recording of the Requiem it is an interesting interpretation. Barenboim's version is sound but he brings little new to this much performed work. The soloists are very fine, but one gets the feeling that this is a mixture of other interpretations- Fischer-Dieskau is OK, but he does not shine as in the Cluytens version. Likewise the soprano has a very fine voice, but the interpretation is relatively average- it neither has resoundingly beautiful vibrato or phrasing, nor is it as pure and unfussed as those who sing it without vibrato. Nevertheless it is still moving. A very middle of the road performance! Buy it if you like, but its not a must- I expected more from Barenboim."

Lovely music

September_Goldenrod | Indiana, USA | 07/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I chose this CD because I sang the two main pieces in choir in the last year. I like the music and I like the combination. One word of caution--the dynamic range of the Requiem is so great that you probably need a good speaker system to fully appreciate it. On my little boombox, the quiet parts tended to get lost, unless I cranked it up a lot, and then I was afraid the loud parts would damage my speakers. My other "complaint" is that the piece sandwiched between these two sacred pieces seems to be a secular work; I would rather have had another sacred piece, although I find the music hauntingly beautiful and apt to get stuck in my head!"