Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem (London version) - Laurence Equilbey, Accentus

Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (London version)

Laurence Equilbey, Accentus

“It was in Wimpole Street in 1871, at the home of a leading surgeon and his musical wife, that the London first performance of Brahms's Deutsches Requiem was given, two years before it was introduced to the British public at large and with orchestral scoring. The arrangement for piano duet was the composer's own, made at the urgent request of his publisher ...

... The occasion was essentially a domestic one, with a small invited audience, piano duettists and singers who, having sung of all flesh being grass, would doubtless have found cold meats laid out for them in the dining room and a glass of wine to refresh the spirits.

This recording successfully presents the Requiem as chamber music. An earlier performance on Opus 111 suggested a final piano rehearsal, the orchestra being expected next week. Here the piano part is played on two instruments, achieving a far more satisfying musical finish. The playing is sensitive, with a singing tone most of the time, and a keen ear for the differentiation between parts or melodic strands. Sandrine Piau is clear-toned and well in control after a very slightly tremulous start; Stéphane Degout, a fine baritone, isn't particularly expressive here but admirable in quality and phrasing. The choir sing with fresh, well-matched tones and care for detail. Choice of tempo seems unerringly right: that is but one of many reasons we have to be grateful to Laurence Equilbey, the conductor.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

Le Choeur de chambre Accentus "Ensemble de l'année" aux Victoires de la Musique classique 2005.

Riche idée d'enregistrer cette version peu commune dite "de Londres" arrangée pour deux pianos et choeur de chambre par le compositeur lui-même. C'est en effet dans cette version que le Requiem allemand fut interprété pour la première fois dans la capitale britannique. Les interprètes sont en outre tous remarquables qu'il s'agisse des pianistes (Brigitte Engerer et Boris Berezovsky), des solistes vocaux (Sandrine Piau lumineuse et Stéphane Degout ferme et émouvant) ou du choeur Accentus, tous emmenés par la direction précise de Laurence Equilbey : un disque à découvrir !

"Brahms's own reduction of the German Requiem in a release by Accentus, the French chamber-chorus, shimmers with simplicity and unexpected beauties... this new release of the 'London Version' makes it obvious that you can't completely know the Brahms work until you've heard it in its two-piano form." - Philadelphia Inquirer

01 Selig sind, die da Leid tragen - (9:03)
02 Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras - (13:50)
03 Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß - (10:12)
04 Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth - (5:05)
05 Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit - (6:32)
06 Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt - (10:41)
07 Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herrn sterben - (9:27)

Posted by Pancho Villa