Biber - Requiem / Bott · Robson · Ainsley · George · Tessa Bonner · New London Consort · Pickett

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (Artist), New London Consort Philip Pickett (Artist), Christopher Robson, John Mark Ainsley, Michael George, Bonner Catherine Bott (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 9, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: L'oiseau Lyre/Special Imports
• ASIN: B00000134Z
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,911 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am confident that this is the best recording of the F minor Requiem, January 30, 2008

By 

Steven Guy (Croydon, South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biber - Requiem / Bott · Robson · Ainsley · George · Tessa Bonner · New London Consort · Pickett (Audio CD)

I bought this recording in around 1995, it came out a little after the New London Consort's recording of Sonatas by Biber and Schmelzer, also on the L'Oiseau-Lyre label. I have loved both recordings ever since. Both contain some magnificent and beautiful music.

The highlight of this recording is, of course, the Requiem ex F con terza min à 5 Voci e 5 Viole in Concerto, 5 Voci in Capella, 3 Tromboni ad libitum. Authore: Henrico Francisco de Bibern dapifero ac Capellę Magistro [Partes 29]. The parts include: Canto 1, Canto 2, Alto, Tenore, Basso in Concerto; multiple parts for: Canto 1, Canto 2, Alto, Tenore, Basso in Capella; Violino 1, Violino 2, Viola 1, Viola 2, Viola 3, Violone, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Trombone 3, Fagotto 1, Fagotto 2, Organo 1, Organo 2, Organo 3 in Capella.

This performance observes this scoring in detail, except it doesn't use a second dulcian. The performance is deep, dark and committed. The soloists sing with conviction and great feelings. The ensemble of strings and brass and continuo (including two archlutes) plays this sober and expressive music with great style, beauty and sensitivity. Many may be more familiar with the great A major Requiem of Biber, which has received several excellent recordings in recent years, including those of Ton Koopmann and Jordi Savall, but the F minor Requiem is in no way inferior and in many ways, it is a more expressive work. One would be tempted to entertain the possibility that Mozart had a passing familiarity with this work - Mozart's Requiem, too, used trombones and strings in close harmony and unison with the voices. Johann Joseph Fux's Requiem for SSATB voices in concerto, SSATB voices in capella, strings [vl 1. vl. 2, vla. 1, vla. 2, vlne.), 2 mute cornetti, 3 tromboni and organo is also similar in style and construction (I have the scores of both the Biber and Fux works).

The other works on this disc are: a Ballettę à 4 (a typical occasional string work by Biber), the famous Battalia à 10 (played great precision by the strings of the NLC), the Serenada "Der Nachtwächter" and the Sonata à 6 "Die Pauern Kirchfarth genandt". These recordings are very enjoyable and a useful appendix to the other CD of sonatas by Biber and Schmelzer by the New London Consort. It is a pity that this group, directed by Philip Pickett, didn't venture further into this very rewarding repertoire.

Buy this disc, if you can!

5.0 out of 5 stars Biber - Requiem / Bott · Robson · Ainsley · George · Tessa Bonner · New London Consort · Pickett, January 8, 2011

By 

Bjorn Viberg (European Union) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biber - Requiem / Bott · Robson · Ainsley · George · Tessa Bonner · New London Consort · Pickett (Audio CD)

Biber - Requiem / Bott · Robson · Ainsley · George · Tessa Bonner · New London Consort · Pickett is a recording under the direction Philip Pickett who leads the New London Consort on this DECCA Record recording from 1994. Philip Pickett has written the liner-notes and the lyrics are available in Latin and English. Being a very devout person this music speaks right into my very soul and the lyrics are verily beautiful. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.