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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harsh world,
By
This review is from: Requiem/Metzmacher (Audio CD)
I have lived with this disc for about five years now before feeling I had reached a settled evaluation in my mind. Viewed across the Henze canon it is one of his most sharp-edged compositions, heart-felt no doubt at all, but the mix of instruments (written for the core London Sinfonietta grouping) leans far away from the lusher textures of Henze's more lyrical inventions, and the absence of any vocal line does nothing to soften the impact. For a long time I wondered how deep its appeal would be. Part of the puzzzle for me arose from having caught from radio two of the movements that Henze released for pre-performance on a much loved cassette about 20 years ago - they were not representative of the whole. For many the requiem mass brings connotations of meditation and quiet awe. Henze, perhaps characteristically, does not permit many moments of still contemplation.
The piece is made of nine "sacred instrumental concerti", the principal lead parts being for the piano and the trumpet. The piano writing is meditative, with a flavour of Messaien's birdsong textures, awash with attractive harmonies, and one is usually comfortable when it is present. The trumpet has a shattering role, centre stage for long chunks. Hakan Hardenberger is heroic, time after time pulling off searing exposed positions with total conviction. Metzmacher too displays open-ended commitment to the score and never flinches to unleash another fusillade whenver Henze calls for one. Slowly I come to appreciate this unique music - not easy on the ear and there are times when one suspects Henze of parodying earlier efforts (Verdi in the Dies Irae for example) and being at risk of undermining his own statement of dismay at the early death of a colleague he so deeply admired. Of the nine movements, three or four have important points of stillness ... but the wider message is one of shock and distress. The work is all the more impressive for this honesty.
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