Verdi: Requiem / Menotti: Death of the Bishop of Brindisi / Schoenberg ~ Leinsdorf [Original recording remastered]

Birgit Nilsson (Artist), Verdi (Composer), Menotti (Composer), Schoenberg (Composer), Leinsdorf (Conductor), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leinsdorf
• Composer: Verdi, Menotti, Schoenberg
• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony Classics / BMG / RCA
• ASIN: B00005JII2
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,284 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Requiem & Kyrie

2. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Dies irae

3. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Tuba mirum

4. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Mors stupebit

5. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Liber scriptus

6. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Quid sum miser

7. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Rex tremendae

8. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Recordare

9. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Ingemisco

10. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Confutatis

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Lux Aeterna

2. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Libera me, Domine

3. Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Dies irae

4. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: And now the night begins

5. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: Good men let us pass

6. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: Behold the singing child

7. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: Away, away!

8. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: Give them your blessing!

9. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: Why did I let them leave

10. The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, cantata for mezzo-soprano, bass, chorus, children's chorus & orchestra: I shall kiss Our Lord's

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my, oh my., November 3, 2004

By 

Luxie P. (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem / Menotti: Death of the Bishop of Brindisi / Schoenberg ~ Leinsdorf (Audio CD)

Though I originally bought this specifically for the Verdi Requiem, and it has its moments (Most specifically Carlo Bergonzi in the tenor role - can I just say that his Hostias and Ingemisco are swoon-worthy?), the real treasure on this album is the only available recording of "Death of the Bishop of Brindisi" I've ever seen.

I will admit that the first few times I heard it, I didn't think much about it, or really care for it, but one day I really sat down and LISTENED to it, and it made me cry.

The story is compelling - it's the tale of the Bishop of Brindisi on his death bed, recalling the ill-fated children's crusade and his part in their death. Though fictionalized, there are some elements of true history in it, but the "what if" factor is what's most inviting. What if the Bishop HAD felt personally responsible for not being able to prevent them from taking to the sea? One can only imagine the guilt and angst the real Bishop would have felt!

The piece itself is a dramatic oratorio, similar in style to Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex. The players are the bishop, a nun who assist at his bedside while he is dying, and SATB and children's choruses. Through flashbacks, we realize that the Bishop, though he tries to stop them and talk them into staying, in the end was bedazzled by the faith and piety of the children and gave them his blessing. After leaving in boats, a great storm arises, sending the children to their graves. Now, their ghosts come to haunt the Bishop as he's dying.

The music is mostly tonal, but definately 20th century, and dissonance is used to great effect. The children's chorus singing an "Ave Maris Stella" as the sail off is devastatingly, heart-breakingly sweet. The nun's counterpoint of "Requiem aeternam" to the Bishop's pleas for enlightenment and his bitterness at feeling alienated by God, trying to lead his flock but being unguided himself, is intensely dramatic.

Though it may take some listening to get into it, it's a wonderful work that is worthy of being mainstream. I can't recommend this recording enough!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Verdi and Menotti, February 16, 2005

By 

Robert Sorrentino "Classical Music-Loving Lib... (Cherry Hill, N.J.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem / Menotti: Death of the Bishop of Brindisi / Schoenberg ~ Leinsdorf (Audio CD)

Along with the classic Toscanini and Reiner recordings, this is probably the best recording of the Verdi Requiem I have heard. While Leinsdorf has had his detractors, particularly during his Boston period, he aquits himself nobly here, with his skillful handling of orchestra, soloists, and chorus throughout. And what soloists! Bergonzi, as has been pointed out in other posts, brings a rarely-heard beauty to the tenor part, and Flagello could scare any sinner with the way he sings "mors," an octave lower each time, in the Dies Irae. But the real suprise is Nilsson. Apart from her Turandot, Aida, and Minnie, hers was not a voice much associated with the Italian repertoire. You'd never know it here, however, and I defy any Italian soprano to handle the part better.

But that's only part of the package. Also heard here, and unavailable in any form since it was initially released in 1964, is the Leinsdorf/BSO recording of Menotti's rarely performed "Death of the Bishop of Brindisi," with the part of the Bishop sung by the incomparable George London. His handling of the part of the tormented Bishop could break your heart, as it does with me everytime I listen to it. As a man dying in torment and fear because of the children he unwittingly sent to die, he is utterly believeable. This is a true singing actor at his best.

Finally, what an odd, sad, ironic coincidence it is that one of the best recordings of the Verdi Requiem should have been re-released on the darkest day in U.S. history: September 11, 2001.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Investment quality, not just for the 'Requiem'..., May 5, 2006

By 

Frank C. Adams (Boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem / Menotti: Death of the Bishop of Brindisi / Schoenberg ~ Leinsdorf (Audio CD)

People will undoubtedly be interested in this 'Requiem' if only because of Nilsson (though she did not sing the concert performances it was based on). She is in her prime, as are all the soloists. The BSO is in top form and totally responsive to Leinsdorf's direction, which seem to to me to be more in the vein of Reiner than Guilini. BUT...there'e more.

'The Death of the Archbishop of Brindisi' is a real treasure. A sort of operatic cantata, it defies description, but is powerful and moving as others have noted. George London fully justifies his legendary status, but the real revelation to me was Lili Chookasian, an extraordinary voice (in the 'Requiem too) that is grossly underappreciated. If there is any doubt, listen to the closing work:

'Song of the Wood Dove' from Gurreleider: early Schoenberg in full Wagnerian glory. Follwing the beautiful orchestral interlude, Chookasian delivers gloriously.

And finally, the RCA engineers have captured the sound of Symphony Hall putting many later attempts by others to shame.