To me Verdi's Requiem is one of the greatest and most awe-inspiring choral works(also even ever) ever was, and while not quite on the same level as the Karajan, Bernstein and Abbado DVD performances this is great all the same. It is elegantly photographed, and the video directing is also acknowledging, at one with the music and never shooting at random objects. The lighting is soft-grained but not too light or too dark, even though there could have been more colour and variety at times. The sound quality thunders and shimmers in all the right places though not without some too distant moments. The orchestra give the piece and its textures, details and harmonies its much needed power and pathos and with beautiful tone and precision. The huge chorus are very well-balanced and sing their socks off while making a sound that appeals to the ears. Lorin Maazel's conducting is much more involved than it was in his later DVD performance as well as far more consistent, he allows the Dies Irae and especially Tuba Mirum movements to rouse and the Lacrimosa and Libera Me to resonate emotionally with few questionable tempos or articulations. It is a musical and energetic reading to be sure. Of the soloists, Luciano Pavarotti is the most well-known name and he doesn't disappoint. Not as youthful as he was, but the ringing ardent tone has as ever beautifully vocal placement and distinction, his diction crystalline, his musicality wide-ranging. Personally, the standout actually was Susan Dunn, her voice is not as large as most sopranos but it does beg the question why she didn't have a bigger career, her voice has a lot of depth and beauty and sails over with ease and there is a real sense that she knows what she's singing about and means it. Paata Burchuladze has a rich dark bass voice that suits the Confutatis and Mors Stupebit superbly and he has a commanding presence certainly; though I am not crazy about his vowel singing which often sounds both too dark-sounding and too open, like the 'o' sound sounding like an 'oar'. Of the four, a young Ildiko Komlosi fares weakest(though she was still good), a beautiful firm sound and she is engaging to watch, especially in Liber Scriptus, but her voice did sound underpowered in places- her voice being the one that for me carried the least in the Lacrimosa- and at times not as steady. In conclusion, not the best performance I've seen of Verdi's Requiem but still good. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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