5 of 6 recommend this SA-CD
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Label:
   Chandos - http://www.chandos.net/
Serial:
   CHSA 5007 (2 discs)
Title:
   Britten: War Requiem etc - Hickox
Description:
   Britten: War Requiem, Op. 66, Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20, Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14

Heather Harper
Philip Langridge
Martyn Hill
John Shirely Quirk
London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox (conductor)
Details:
  
Genre:
   Classical - Vocal
Content:
   Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
   Hybrid
Recording type:
   PCM
Recording info:
  
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Related titles: 4
 
Reviews: 2
Review by Dr. O August 5, 2005 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics (MC):
A very fine recording! (I still have a soft spot in my heart for the version conducted by Britten himself in 1963 [released under the London label]. The voices of Galina Vishnevskaya, Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau are joined by the London Symphony and the Melos Ensemble to create what I continue to consider as the "standard" by which all other performances are judged.)

Richard Hickox does a wonderful job in this new release. The orchestral and choral forces are crisp and well balanced. The recording is of a very high quality. Every single nuance is crystal clear. The tempos are at times different from those chosen by Britten, but nevertheless Hickox's musical judgements are sound and compelling.

I recommend this disc without reservation. And I also hope that in the not too distant future, the venerable London recording so dear to my heart will find a suitable transfer to the world of Super Audio!

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Review by SimonTJU May 20, 2003 (2 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics:
As I understand, this is one of the first high resolution CD's of this label. Britten was mastered from 16/44 (info from discs cover). Dispite this, the sonic is increadibly analog like! I couldn't hear any harshness and brightness, usually, associated with such PCM mastering. Superb transparency, powerful bass, wide soundstage (particularly with chorus in Requiem) - sonic delight.
Britten War Requiem is well known work. Performance is very good, the tempo per my taste is a bit slow. Still magic and hypnotizing. Here, when soloists are too close to microphones, some harshness can be detected. Expensive, two disc - double price. Still, highly recommended.

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