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Reviews: Fauré: Requiem - Spanjaard

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Reviews: 3

Review by mwagner1962 May 27, 2005 (9 of 10 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:    
I have been looking for a SACD recording of Faure's Requiem for some time, as I have always loved this piece of choral music. While I like the sometimes huge emotional peaks of the Verdi and Berlioz Requiem, this music offers just the opposite....a serene, restful, and devotional atmosphere that is just plain cool!!!

This SACD delivers it ALL in a whopping package. I have yet to hear a choral/orchestral recording that is this well done. There is space, air, transparency in DROVES!!! The singers are well placed, the orchestral balances are just right, the organ is perfect, and there is a superb sense of acoustical space that was obtained, without any artificial echo that is sometimes used on other recordings. The singers are well placed and have just the right amount of air around them.

I have never actually owned a CD recording of this piece, though I have heard the Faure Requiem performed live several times. While I cannot offer any memories of other recordings, the recording here brings back the sublime memories of hearing this piece done right in wonderful environments!!!

VERY highly recommended!!!!

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Review by Oscar August 31, 2005 (5 of 6 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:    
First the sound: very good but a touch too reverberating. As if chorus and orchestra were swiming in the sound stream. This observation is comparing it to other Pentatone discs, because the sound per-se is vastly superior to that of the competition.

The performance I found only good, nothing exceptional, although both soloists are excellent.
I would say that the conducting is rather faceless. Even considering that the main `piece here is a very tranquil one, more variety of tempi and dynamics would have been welcome. The shorter pieces that fill up the disc are all very interesting and well played, but, again, emotions are on the tame side.
Finally, at 54 minutes, it is rather short in it´s duration.

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Review by threerandot November 19, 2006 (3 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
Although this is only my third SACD made by Pentatone it is a disc that I think will appeal to most choral music lovers. The performances throughout this disc are very meditative and the choral voices come through with clarity. The very open acoustic seems to only enhance the emotion of these performances. There is also a great deal of colour and depth, giving you that feeling of being there.

This recording is also designed to be soothing and relaxing. I also love the way solo voices soar above the rich tapestry of the orchestra. Open and big sounding, yet intimate at the same time. Surely not easy an feat to manage. There is also some pretty incredible dynamics and the sound remains smooth and rich throughout, even in forte passages.

I have always been a lover of french music and this disc from Pentatone should easily satisfy most listeners of this repertoire.

(This review only refers to the MCH portion of this disc.

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