Verdi: Requiem

Advantages: Glorious recorded sound, a fine group of soloists
Disadvantages: Some fans may not like Sutherland in this music

...This version of Verdi's Requiem sounds absolutely terrific. The chorus has lots of presence -so important in the famous Dies Irae and the soloists are miked beautifully. The 'Hostias' and 'Ingemisco' are some of the finest recordings of Luciano Pavarotti available. Arguably he had more character by the time of his later recording from the late 80s with Riccardo Muti but he is caught here at his finest vocally with the hushed ingemisco amongst the best of that much recorded aria. Joan Sutherland's performance has been criticised quite a lot by critics that think she should not have recorded Verdi roles (similar complaints surround her Traviatas, her Leonora in Il Trovatore and her Elvira in Ernani). I really like her in this music. She is certainly preferable in my opiion to Schwarzkopf (Giulini/EMI and De Sabata (Naxos)) or Nelli... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Allows you to relive the film from moment to moment, wonderful composition, Additctive overture.
Disadvantages: Tracks are fragmented and short

...Requiem for a dream .. aka Delusion Over Addiction Soundtracks accompany and enhance the experience of a movie. But seldom does it happen that that the score is so good that it stands out on its own to be marvelled at…. The Film ~ Requiem for a Dream, is an adaptation of Hubert Selby's 1978 novel about the harrowing lives of four drug addicts. A mother her son and his beloved Girlfriend, all who become dependant upon drugs and suffer mental illness. This film documents the emotional downfall of these characters, and illustrates their sheer drug induced desperation and melancholy quite graphically. Don't expect any happy end for its swamped in tragedy. The film itself is highly stylised. Aronofsky tries to a degree through surrealist imagery to create a realism where you become emotionally connected with the characters... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Interesting, beautifull, well written
Disadvantages: Bad choice of soloists

...The Requiem, written shotly after his fathers death, is the only piece in this genre that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written. It is a relatively short piece, only 45 minutes long (NOT as the CD discription says, 1h 45min!!), written for chamber orchestra, organ, SATB choir and tenor, soprano and treble soloists. It uses the well known texts of the Requiem mass. I find the music beautifull in a haunting way. The music os mainly classical, but bears a modern touch, which is refreshing. The music is reasonably easy to sing for a choral singer, which makes it an attractive piece for choirs. This recording uses a boy choir and the soloist Placido Domingo (tenor), Sarah Brightman (soprano) and Paul Miles-Kingston. To me, the soloist are the weakest part of the recording. Placido Domingos voice is to heavy to manage the fast Hosanna, Sara... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful