Faure - requiem

I have three recordings:



Although I love Faure's Requiem, the multiple CDs were bought mainly to build up my library of the other works! There have been other recordings since.

Any of the sleeves look familiar?!

I enjoy them all. But as a single disc, the one that pairs the two major works of the Faure and Durufle Requiems is the one I listen to most. (But then, I prefer the Durufle really, anyway...)

James

Yes!-I have the EMI one on the left, the other one I have is a cheapy Naxos one, which I actually prefer thus far...

I have the version in the middle, and it's excellent. It was recommended to my wife by the local classical record shop as being the 'best' version.

Nigel

The Cleobury Faure/Durufle disc At the bottom of the picture) is to me, the one to play, even when you have others.
Ken

Faure's Requiem has a most complex history and comes in several editions. Off the top of my head I cannot detail these, but there is an edition with chamber orchestra excluding violins, which I have played in a public concert public, and it is splendid if very different in orchestral sonority from the big version for large orchestra and big organ, which I have also played in public. I think there is a middled sized version, and possibly one with choir and organ alone.

Rutter made a very fine recording of it, and I seem to remember that he uses another version again [performing edition made by himself], which he claimed was what Faure actually wrote! But he did explain the tortuous history of the various editions, and it seems likely that not all of these were not really Faure's intention!

In this way recordings will probably seem to vary wildly in terms of the orchestral/organ/choir balance, whilst being faithful to the edition used for the recordinded performance. It is just as complex as the issue over various Bruckner Symphonies!

ATB from Fredrik

OK thanks all - I can see I may end up with several of this particular piece of music....

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
Faure's Requiem has a most complex history and comes in several editions.

The greatest performance (by which I mean most engaging) was a Liturgical performance at St Cyprian's, Clarence Gate (nr Baker St) c1987.



Faure's Requiem works well as a concert piece, but it is when it is performed in its intended context that it really clicks into place.

St Cyprian's is a wonderful example of the architectural work of Ninian Comper 1864-1960, (thus contemporaneous with Faure) - Comper's great principle being 'beauty by inclusion'.

They were both wonderful examples of the imaginative responding to the Gothic revival which flourished in the late C19th. And although from different countries, with different expressions of Gothic revival, their works are wonderfully complementary.

James

OK just ordered the middle one after having read a review or two - will report back!

The Rutter/Cambridge Singers is one from which I have only heard excerpts on Amazon. The Pie Jesu sounds great, but the(to me) excessive vibrato in the Libera Me spoils it.

Ken

I must agree...we've listed to many recordings of Faure's requiem and the only one that really touches us, with the beautiful simple score, and theat lovely pipe organ which forms the backbone of In paradesum is the Rutter/Cambridge Singers one. Incidentally, this was the version I studied many many years ago for O' level Music! Loved it then, can't beat it now.