Munich Bach Choir director conducts Verdi's Requiem
pyramidcvv | Western US | 04/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hanns-Martin Schneidt, longtime music director of the Munich Bach Choir (1984 - 2001) conducts this performance of the Verdi Requiem, recorded live in Munich in October 1988. Overall, this is a very "clean" recording; absolutely no noticeable operatic pretensions.
Sharon Sweet, a veteran Aida and a devout Christian, has plenty of power for the Requiem. She also creates a beautiful high B-flat in Libera Me. Jard van Nes, a Dutch mezzo who specializes in oratorio, provides a rich sound throughout. Francisco Araiza, the world-renowned tenor from Mexico, is more of the Nicolai Gedda type; his highly lyrical Ingemisco is beautiful but may not suit those listeners more accustomed to a heavier Verdian sound like Carreras or Domingo. Simon Estes, the legendary bass-baritone, needs no introduction. His buzzy resonance gives him a wonderfully unique sound which makes his a rich, creamy Verdi Requiem.
The Frankfurt Singakademie and the Munich Bach Choir blend perfectly together - sometimes too perfectly (too much Baroque music, perhaps?). It seems like their stellar sound has been created at the expense of artistic abandon, something that is especially noticeable when the music gets more agressive.
The Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra has recorded frequently for the Naxos label with conductor Christopher Lyndon-Gee. Under Schneidt, they perform superbly, demonstrating deft handling of the difficult string passages and brass fanfares alike.
There is some noticeable audience noise at times. The liner notes include texts and translations, but they are written in a green font that makes the tiny print even more difficult to read. The recorded sound does a good job capturing the fine acoustics of the performance.
This is not a well-known recording. But I would recommend it to budget-conscious people who are new to Verdi Requiem and are looking for a first recording. Admittedly, there are many other budget versions of much higher stature (e.g., Karajan's and Reiner's), but the purchaser of this CD will not go wrong."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1