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Requiem (Orchestre Phil De Radio-France, Bernstein)
 
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Requiem (Orchestre Phil De Radio-France, Bernstein)

~ Hector Berlioz (Artist)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Product details

  • Audio CD (10 Sep 2001)
  • SPARS Code: A-D
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • ASIN: B000058TK0
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 585,880 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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1. Requium
2. The Death Of Cleopatra
3. Romeo & Juliet
On this CD:
  1. Grande messe des morts (Requiem)
    Composed by Hector Berlioz
    Performed by French National Orchestra, French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, French Radio Chorus
    with Stuart Burrows
    Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

  2. La mort de Cléopâtre
    Composed by Hector Berlioz
    Performed by New York Philharmonic Orchestra
    with Jennie Tourel
    Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

  3. Roméo et Juliette
    Composed by Hector Berlioz
    Performed by New York Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Shock and awe, 10 Oct 2009
By rjmcr "rjmcr" (manchester, uk) - See all my reviews
This underrated recording has drifted in and out of Sony's back catalogue several times over the years, achieving an almost cult following in some circles. If you can find an affordable copy, it's well worth a listen.

When this recording was made, in 1975, Bernstein was very much the jet-setting superstar conductor, frequently popping up in Europe's major musical centres to conduct, record and often film concerts of monumental choral works such as the Missa Solemnis, the Verdi Requiem, Mahler's Eighth symphony and the work heard here. The recording technology of the time didn't always match Bernstein's vision and ambition and, truth be told, this recording isn't perfect. If you search for "Bernstein Berlioz Requiem" on YouTube (the live concert is there in full) then you'll see why, and why I think you should forgive its imperfection.

Bernstein chose to perform and record the work live in the church of Les Invalides in Paris, the location of the work's premiere in 1837. As a performance setting, it is spectacular; as a recording venue, it is a nightmare of cavernous reverberation. To compound the problem, Bernstein follows Berlioz's wishes of expanding both the chorus and orchestra to fill whatever space is available. The result is a vast orchestra and chorus in a vast acoustic and proves to be this recording's greatest strength and its Achilles heel.

To accommodate the immense tuttis, the quieter passages are rather recessed. You'll be turning up your hi-fi to hear them but you'd better keep your remote control at hand for the Tuba Mirum and Lacrymosa or else wait until all of your neighbours are out!

But if you can compromise on a need for audio perfection, you'll be rewarded with an extraordinary performance of this extraordinary work. The quieter passages are properly devout and prayerful with some beautiful choral singing and sympathetic accompaniment from Bernstein and his orchestra, while the huge forces give him the opportunity to unleash all hell in the Tuba Mirum which, of course, he does to overwhelming effect! The Lacrymosa also has a breathtaking power and magisterial sweep to it, underpinned by some really thrilling orchestral surges, while Stuart Burrows' sensitive solo crowns a beautiful and charming rendition of the Sanctus.

For forty-odd years, the benchmark in this work has been Colin Davis' LSO account on Philips. While admiring it musically, it's always disappointed me as a performance and the chorus sounds too small and too close. The most recent recording (by Dutoit in Montreal) benefits from exceptional sound quality but never once catches fire. By putting himself in Berlioz's shoes, Bernstein comes closest to realising the composer's vision of a work "awesome in its grandeur" and is therefore worthy of a 5-star rating and my recommendation.
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