|
Site review by Castor July 13, 2008
|
Performance: Sonics (MC): |
After its initial successful premiere in Milan in 1874, Verdi conducted this work in performances all over Europe including one in Cologne, the city from where this latest recording emanates. Although the logo on the booklet states ‘The Cologne Broadcasts’ this set does appear to have been taped without an audience in sessions between the 12th and 16th of November 2007, following live performances with the same forces a few days earlier. The chorus of the Teatro Reggio in Turin joins the choirs of WDR Cologne and NDR Hamburg, while the four soloists are from Lithuania, Russia, Italy, and Mexico, giving the whole enterprise an international dimension.
Semyon Bychkov has assembled a very well matched group of soloists, all of whom have distinguished careers on the operatic stage and are particularly associated with Verdi’s music. This shows in their outstanding identification with, and vivid delivery of, the text. As evinced by his recent fine recording of Rachmaninov’s ‘The Bells’ also on Profil Rachmaninov: The Bells, Symphonic Dances - Bychkov, Semyon Bychkov is adept at controlling large vocal and orchestral forces and both this and his unerring sense of drama give this performance a clear edge over the Harnoncourt version, one of the only two other modern recordings currently available on SACD.(I have not heard the Bosch version).
From the opening bars of the ‘Requiem’ with wonderfully hushed and refined string playing from the orchestra, it is obvious that this is to be a forward moving interpretation with no exaggerated pious religiosity or affectation. Bychkov observes Verdi’s andante marking for this section, which is all too often treated by conductors as adagio. The entry of the three choirs at ‘Te decet hymnus’ is forthright and lusty, reminiscent of many a chorus from an early Verdi opera and their diction is exemplary both here and throughout the performance.
The ‘Dies Irae’ is electrifying with the chorus and orchestra perfectly balanced in the excellent Köln Philharmonie acoustic, while the recording allows the climaxes to expand with ease and no sense of strain. In the ‘Tuba Mirum’ the extra trumpets emerge spectacularly from the rear speakers in the multi-channel layer of the disc. The brass playing here, as elsewhere, is tonally rich and secure.
Ferruccio Furlanetto’s warm bass provides suitable gravitas for ‘Mors stupebit’ and the later ‘Confutatis maledictis’, while his smooth timbre makes a welcome change from some of the more gravelly basses heard on other recordings.
Some may find the vocal quality of RamónVargas more appealing than I did, but it will certainly disappoint those hoping for a sweeter and more Italianate delivery than Vargas offers. He does occasionally force his tone too much, for example, at his first entry in the ‘Requiem’ but elsewhere he sings most sensitively and observes Verdi’s ‘dolciss’ markings beautifully at ‘Hostias et preces tibi’ (CD2 4’08”). His ‘Ingemisco’, though perhaps a little too histrionic, is finely delivered with easily produced, ringing top notes.
In contrast, Olga Borodina turns in an outstanding performance in every respect. Her voluptuous vocalisation is magnificent and causes one to marvel at the way she is able to thin down her large dramatic mezzo-soprano to achieve the finest pianissimo. Her firm delivery of the ‘Liber scriptus’ is superb and one of the highlights of this recording.
Violeta Urmana is equally fine. She blends beautifully with Borodina in both the ‘Recordare’ and ‘Agnus Dei’, and culminates her contribution with a thrillingly passionate’ Libera me’ which brings to a close this most wonderful of Requiems.
Lovers of this work will still show allegiance to their favourite performances of the past, influenced, I suspect, by the vocal qualities of the soloists as much as the choice of conductor. However, this new version, which combines superb choral singing and exciting conducting must surely take its place among the finest of recent recordings, while for sound quality alone it must be at the top of the list.
|
Copyright © 2008 Graham Williams and SA-CD.net
|
|
