Verdi: Requiem

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Janet Baker (Performer), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Leontyne Price (Performer), Alessandro Lucchetti (Performer), Veriano Luchetti (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Janet Baker, Leontyne Price, Alessandro Lucchetti, Veriano Luchetti
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (June 8, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FCO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,889 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Price, Leontyne

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diffinitive Verdi Requiem, April 11, 2000

By 

Brett A. Kniess (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem (Audio CD)

Solti can do no wrong, really. This recording won a Grammy as a choral work and vaulted the great chorus director Margaret Hillis in the eyes of many professional musicians.

Solti's tempos are right on the mark in this recording, compared to other recordings (Reiner for example). I really enjoy these soloists. Leontyne Price has a dark rich voice compared to many Sopranos; also considered one of the first great African American opera divas. Dame Janet Baker sounds volumptuous and sings the Lacrymosa like no other Mezzo, she adds her own sassy interpretation (which I love). The little known Veriano Luchetti is marvelous on the demanding tenor part, coming in loud and clear, while Jose Van Dam exudes his natural performance.

This is a recording from the 1970's, but the sound and quality are excellent; so much so it won a Grammy. If you want digital check out Shaw, Hickox, or Gergiev. My only qualm on this recording is that the chorus isn't as present as I would like. At times (Dies Irae) I really want more chorus all around.

But, if you are looking for a high quality Verdi Requiem, check this one out. Also, in the 80's, Solti recorded this Requiem in Vienna with Sutherland, Horne, and Pavarotti, but I didn't much care for it. As a matter of fact, I have found very few recordings can hold their standards up to this one. This recording is a lot of fun and highly recommended.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite Requiem, November 22, 2004

By 

Emma de Soleil "I moved to the UK for another... (On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for studies) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem (Audio CD)

I am not a fan of requiems or masses but there are some in my collection that I love to listen to, one of them being the haunting, vibrant Verdi Requiem. This version is, in my opinion, the most refined and noble one ever recorded. Leontyne Price, though not in her youthful prime as it was recorded in 1977 gives a beautiful performance. Her voice, smoky and velvety, sonds almost angelic here and she does add the pathos that is so essential for the haunting "Libera me"! One of my favourite recordings featuring Leontyne Price. In addition her Tosca, both Verdi-Leonoras and Butterfly are most essential. Baker takes the crown here even though she never was much of a Verdi-mezzo, but neither was Horne and she was fabulous in this work as well. Her contralto voice has so much dignity and nobility, only Kathleen Ferrier surpassed her in this aspect. Luchetti does a fine job with the difficult music written for the tenor even though young Carreras (Who sang it at the time in Salzburg) or Pavarotti are the better choices. Van Dam can be heard on several recordings of this work but never ever have I heard him in such glorious shape. A masterful recording by the wonderful Solti, whom I love in anything Verdi. His conducting of Don Carlo and La Traviata revealed hidden treasures! A+++++++++++++

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful classic, July 1, 2001

By 

philistine (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Requiem (Audio CD)

This 1977 version with Price, Baker, Luchetti, and van Dam is superb. Each member of the quartet shines, the chorus is powerful and beautiful, and the orchestra is flawless. Solti and Hillis take the CSO and CSC to new levels of performance here. Definitely worth owning. Leontyne's voice is simply unparalleled. Truly exquisite.