Customer Reviews

Mozart: Great Choral Works

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had hoped to see the reviews of others with regard to this performance of the requiem. I had this title on 8-track, cassette tape, LP and finally on CD. I've heard other performances of this work and didn't really care for many aspects of these recordings. I worked in a CD specialty store that had a huge selection of Classical and the ability to sample all of our inventory. Something about these newer, often digitally superior sounding recordings always seems off to me, phrasing, soloists, choir, sound, tempo or something. I like the Davis best. I've been looking for the opinions of others with regard to other works and hoped to see others here of this one to gauge my perceptions of this recording by. Guess I'll have to start the ball rolling by being first to offer my opinion. Only thing that detracts would be the age of the recording leaving it with dated sound, well made up for by the great performance though.

At this price, this set is a steal. You get two discs packed with amazing music-immortal music. For those of you who have seen "Amadeus" you will recognize some of the music quickly. My favorite is the "Coronation Mass in C" K317 (which I performed in Carnegie Hall in May 1992) and the famous "Requiem". It is mindblowing to think that so much organizational skill could be wrapped up in one single mind. Mozart was a truly amazing individual. This is a good set for the person who is not obsessed with classical music, yet wants to have some of the best of it at a bargain price.

Essential.

Sir Colin Davis (I hope he's as good a person as he is a conductor)

does a great job on this recording... the 'Qui tollis' from the Gloria

of the C-Minor Mass in particular is conducted in a way that penetrates

the heart (the listener can hear the harmonic progressions unfold in

a slow and weighty manner that is not hindered by baroque instrumentation...

i.e... I prefer it without baroque instrumentation because I think Mozart's Choral

Works are better romantisized then baroquesized) ... I hope that makes some kind

of sense. My only complaint on this recording is the tenor isn't loud enough in

the overall balance with the other two soloists.. but hey... it's an old recording (I think

it dates back to either the late 60s or early 70s so I'll give Phillips a break... This CD is definetely worth your money if you're looking for an introduction to Mozart's Choral Works.

I have listened to many versions of Requiem by Mozart, and this is my favorite. I do not say it is the best, or the purest, or truest... everyone has their own preference.

I did find that the clarity of the recording is superb. I listen to this on my home sound system as well as my Ipod with Sennheiser HD headphones.

I also like that this version has a depth and richness without being too bass driven or too deep (like the Karajan recording). The pace is slightly faster than many recordings, but there are many versions played much quicker than this.

Worth a listen!