Faure (1845-1924) - Faure Requiem, Gounod Ave Verum, etc : Niquet / Flemish Radio Choir, Brussels Philharmonic Soloists - Import CD

Credits:

Faure (1845-1924)

Description:

Hervé Nicquet, a prodigious talent, leads the Flanders Radio Chorus in its Requiem series. For the first installment, he has chosen Fauré's Requiem. The orchestral part consists of members of the prestigious Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra. The beauty of Fauré's music itself is fully demonstrated, but the performance is neither over-the-top nor aestheticist, and has a very intimate atmosphere. Fauré's Requiem was performed in three different manuscripts between 1888 and 1900. The original "Madeleine manuscript" was performed at an actual ceremony in 1888, and consists of five pieces: Entrance Chorus and Kyrie, Sanctus, Piet Jesus, Agnus Dei, and In Paradisum (soprano solo, chorus, viola, cello, double bass, harp, and organ).The second is the "1893 manuscript," which is the 1888 version of the piece with the addition of the libra me and the consecration, baritone solo and wind instruments (this manuscript is also widely known from a recording by Herreweghe (HMG.501292)). And the third, performed in 1900, is a manuscript with the same orchestration as is commonly performed today. Hervé Nicquet uses the 1893 manuscript as a stepping stone for his performance. Hervé Nicquet is a scholarly yet flexible thinker. Hervé Niquet, who is both studious and flexible, performs "Pie Jesu" not as a solo soprano but as a unison soprano in the chorus. Niquet explains that he did this because he wanted to create a very personal atmosphere, as if he were performing at a real funeral. The actual requiem is performed on the deceased's (or his family's) dime.It is "inconceivable that all could have employed one soprano soloist in addition to instrumentalists and chorus," and also because "the Dutch Radio Choir is of very fine quality. The Libera Me added in this 1893 manuscript is performed by a baritone soloist, as stated in the manuscript. The coupling is a religious work by Gounod. Gounod is famous only for his Ave Maria and his operas "Faust" and "Romeo and Juliet," but his real talent is demonstrated in his religious works. The culmination of this is "The Last Seven Words of Christ on the Cross," written for unaccompanied chorus in 1858 and revised in 1866. Like the Palestrina, it follows a complex counterpoint, and Gounod said, "It is possible to write beautiful music in a strict style and still portray the uncontrollable intensity of human passion." King International

Tracklisting:

1.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 1. Introitus - Kyrie
2.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 2. Offertorium
3.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 3. Sanctus
4.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 4. Pie Jesu
5.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 5. Agnus Dei
6.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 6. Libera Me
7.Messe de Requiem, Op. 48: 7. In Paradisum
8.Ave Verum
9.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: Prologue
10.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 1. Praeter euntes
11.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 2. Unus autem
12.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 3. Cum vidisset
13.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 4. Tenebrae factae sunt
14.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 5. Postea sciens Jesus
15.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 6. Vas ergo erat
16.Les sept paroles du Christ sur la croix: 7. Pater, in manus tuas