I get frustrated when postings contain no credits... or have I missed them? Anyway, this sounds like Stephen Varcoe, a superb British baritone of the 'period' school of singing. He has countless recordings of all things baroque and beyond with the likes of Gardiner and Christophers to mention just two.
As far as this recording goes, it sounds like the John Rutter with Varcoe and a brilliant, boyish sounding Caroline Ashton. The choir is the very fine Cambridge singers.
This is my favourite interpretation. I love the way he drives the sentenses. As for his voice, this is church music, not opera. The voice doesn't have to be so heavy and dark. Anyway, my tastes are a little bit different, so I am told: I prefer good expression to a good voice and present vibratto.
I'm going to go with the dislike on this soloist's voice. Not cause of singing ability, but it sounds higher pitch than I'm used to. He sounds an octave high to me.
Wish I could find my cd of this requiem. We sang it back in chorus when I was in military academy.
My god eyesopenuw...... You don-t dig classical singing at all, don't you?
James Morris and hot potato...... That is how a classical bass-baritone should sound............ This guy is talented and has a lot of musicality but definitely must work on his voice..... nice voice btw...... Roam Youtube and listen to Siepi, Ramey, Terfel, Bastianini... especially Bastianini........ and so many of them.... learn before critycizing...........
This guy sounds more like a tenor -- cleaner clearer voice, brighter tone, etc. -- singing a baritone solo. And there's nothing at all wrong with that. Just because the "standard" bass-baritone voice is much darker doesn't mean that a bari solo sung in the lighter tone can't be aesthetically pleasing.
The effect of the lighter voice works for this piece, imo. Of course Morris' version is excellent too; they are just different.
@Dalmata1961 well you should also learn before critycizing! James Morris' sound is just one of many different sounds of a bass-baritone. It a matter of how "dark" your vowels is and how much you open your throat. So I think you should be much less offensive in your statements! Please.
@MrSbunk I did some learning and I used to sing this same requiem.This guy is light baritone not a bass- baritone.Not bad at all.I just prefer to hear darker voice.Maybe this guy is here at his tops or maybe he should work more to get there.I cannot tell from this recording only. I apologize if I was offensive as that was not my intention.However, if someone goes out there and sings in public and his recordings come to youtube then he must be ready to accept also bad and offensive critics too.
Hey, it's a big world, with plenty of room for both kinds of interpretations. One time one seems more fitting, then surprisingly, another time, one prefers something different. They're both heartfelt, both good.
Both the singer and the choir are overly operatic in my view. The Faure requiem calls for a more restrained tone. I haven't heard anyone sing the Libera Me better and with more emotional power than Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (or anyone sing the Pie Jesu more movingly than Victoria de los Angeles, God rest her soul).
Nevertheless, I'd still like to know who the performers are in this recording. It is very rude to post a recording without providing such information.
i agree, that the faure requiem as a whole calls for a restrained tone. but not in a libera me and a dies irae. those are the most dramatic parts. first the frightened outcry for liberation and salvation in the libera me part and then god's wrath and destruction. those dont call for a restraint tone at all. quite the opposite, imho. and this is done very well in this recording.
yes, i agree. this baritone is perfect for a "libera me". his quite high and clear voice gives it a real meaning. it sounds more pleading and more vulnerable, whereas a deeper voice sometimes sounds too confident, imho.
This was my very first solo with a choir, and pipe organ when I was in 11th grade in school.This was very fun to sing. I thought I was going to have a panic attack and it was a challenge matching the integrity, and excellence of the conductor and choir.
I know that James Morris is a professional.. but I just don't like it when a singer sound like he has a mouthful of hot potato! I like this guy because he's sings clearly
that's pretty condemning... Often what you think of as 'hot potato' is a much richer sound. Of course the very best singers have fantastic resonance and diction, but lesser mortals often emphasize one or the other, and seeing as everyone knows the words to libera anyway...
i loveeeeee this =]
drumslinefreak 1 week ago
omg i'm so so tiredn, lover you guys night <43
Tranc3Luv3r 1 month ago
I get frustrated when postings contain no credits... or have I missed them? Anyway, this sounds like Stephen Varcoe, a superb British baritone of the 'period' school of singing. He has countless recordings of all things baroque and beyond with the likes of Gardiner and Christophers to mention just two.
As far as this recording goes, it sounds like the John Rutter with Varcoe and a brilliant, boyish sounding Caroline Ashton. The choir is the very fine Cambridge singers.
ajhiflyer 3 months ago
Comment removed
gin1516 3 months ago
this song always gives me chills.
habde 5 months ago 3
This is my favourite interpretation. I love the way he drives the sentenses. As for his voice, this is church music, not opera. The voice doesn't have to be so heavy and dark. Anyway, my tastes are a little bit different, so I am told: I prefer good expression to a good voice and present vibratto.
senshigeia 7 months ago 2
ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWAH
iNarbage 7 months ago 11
Beautifully sung, both by the solosit and the choir. The dynamics are excellent. What a fabulous example.
thatotherguy181 8 months ago 2
More than the soloist or any other vocalist, Fauré is great.
Hellborg81 9 months ago
Does anyone think this sounds like some kind of Soviet Anthem?
Uberstroker 11 months ago
Can you please tell me the name/label of this recording?
pasxizeis 1 year ago
ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWAH
Phelan666 1 year ago 6
Is he singing through a fan?
jaiobie 1 year ago
@jaiobie It's called vibrato
Daemoni 11 months ago
@Daemoni lol! I was about to say that xD
chocchipcookiegirl 8 months ago
@Daemoni I'm well aware of what the technique is called. He'd have such a nice voice if it wasn't for that incessant warbling.
jaiobie 8 months ago
I'm going to go with the dislike on this soloist's voice. Not cause of singing ability, but it sounds higher pitch than I'm used to. He sounds an octave high to me.
Wish I could find my cd of this requiem. We sang it back in chorus when I was in military academy.
Frostclaw 1 year ago
My god eyesopenuw...... You don-t dig classical singing at all, don't you?
James Morris and hot potato...... That is how a classical bass-baritone should sound............ This guy is talented and has a lot of musicality but definitely must work on his voice..... nice voice btw...... Roam Youtube and listen to Siepi, Ramey, Terfel, Bastianini... especially Bastianini........ and so many of them.... learn before critycizing...........
Dalmata1961 1 year ago
@Dalmata1961
If, in his opinion, something is not good, it can not be perfect.
Music is not an aquired taste.
If you think someone could sound better, that person could, otherwise noone would say that.
You dont have to 'dig' classical singing to judge it.
thijssnl 1 year ago
@Dalmata1961 and @eyesopenuw
This guy sounds more like a tenor -- cleaner clearer voice, brighter tone, etc. -- singing a baritone solo. And there's nothing at all wrong with that. Just because the "standard" bass-baritone voice is much darker doesn't mean that a bari solo sung in the lighter tone can't be aesthetically pleasing.
The effect of the lighter voice works for this piece, imo. Of course Morris' version is excellent too; they are just different.
entropius 1 year ago
@Dalmata1961 well you should also learn before critycizing! James Morris' sound is just one of many different sounds of a bass-baritone. It a matter of how "dark" your vowels is and how much you open your throat. So I think you should be much less offensive in your statements! Please.
MrSbunk 7 months ago
@MrSbunk I did some learning and I used to sing this same requiem.This guy is light baritone not a bass- baritone.Not bad at all.I just prefer to hear darker voice.Maybe this guy is here at his tops or maybe he should work more to get there.I cannot tell from this recording only. I apologize if I was offensive as that was not my intention.However, if someone goes out there and sings in public and his recordings come to youtube then he must be ready to accept also bad and offensive critics too.
Dalmata1961 7 months ago
I am singing the requiem of Faure in the chorus in Japan in which I am participating now.
This tune loves especially, is good, and it hears it.
takato1117 1 year ago
Is this in French or what> XD It's cool!! :D My teacher thoguht I would like this and I do!! I love people who sing.
dussekfan 1 year ago
@dussekfan it's latin lol and yeah it is friggin gorgeous =]
MimiChan37 1 year ago
Hey, it's a big world, with plenty of room for both kinds of interpretations. One time one seems more fitting, then surprisingly, another time, one prefers something different. They're both heartfelt, both good.
CriticalListener 1 year ago
I must say, the soloist is quite admirable. However, I'll agree that the choir is too operatic.
pachidermo 1 year ago
It's great. I would love to hear the recording with Fischer-Dieskau, if anyone would be kind to post it. :)
dimseventh 1 year ago
Both the singer and the choir are overly operatic in my view. The Faure requiem calls for a more restrained tone. I haven't heard anyone sing the Libera Me better and with more emotional power than Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (or anyone sing the Pie Jesu more movingly than Victoria de los Angeles, God rest her soul).
Nevertheless, I'd still like to know who the performers are in this recording. It is very rude to post a recording without providing such information.
clamal53 2 years ago
@clamal53
i agree, that the faure requiem as a whole calls for a restrained tone. but not in a libera me and a dies irae. those are the most dramatic parts. first the frightened outcry for liberation and salvation in the libera me part and then god's wrath and destruction. those dont call for a restraint tone at all. quite the opposite, imho. and this is done very well in this recording.
mehlprinz74 1 year ago
yes, i agree. this baritone is perfect for a "libera me". his quite high and clear voice gives it a real meaning. it sounds more pleading and more vulnerable, whereas a deeper voice sometimes sounds too confident, imho.
beautiful
mehlprinz74 2 years ago
But who is the soloist performing on that audio? The soloist is PERFECT.
Marzziooo 2 years ago
Que musica tan fantastica. Es un regalo de Dios.
TheBuenosaires8 2 years ago
This was my very first solo with a choir, and pipe organ when I was in 11th grade in school.This was very fun to sing. I thought I was going to have a panic attack and it was a challenge matching the integrity, and excellence of the conductor and choir.
angelinakat 2 years ago
this is probably my favorite movement... it's just so epic and beautiful at the same time
otacon7522 2 years ago 4
wonderful :)
Neiji76 2 years ago
we sang the whole faure requiem back in highschool. great piece of art
klinkysworld 2 years ago 4
I sung this in Prague with my school for a tour :)
But we couldnt sing it in churches because it being about death BUT we sung it in an old peoples home :S:S:S:S
rachelthacker 2 years ago
I love this song. I'm a tenor 1 in my highschool choir and we're currently learning this piece.
Adrian7462 3 years ago
james morris version is way better.
LzzzL1245 3 years ago
I know that James Morris is a professional.. but I just don't like it when a singer sound like he has a mouthful of hot potato! I like this guy because he's sings clearly
eyesopenuw 3 years ago 19
that's pretty condemning... Often what you think of as 'hot potato' is a much richer sound. Of course the very best singers have fantastic resonance and diction, but lesser mortals often emphasize one or the other, and seeing as everyone knows the words to libera anyway...
flaze3 2 years ago 2
@eyesopenuw That is proper Technique. Making sure your soft pallet is fully lifted and you larynx is in a comfortable relaxed possession.....
SANDXcalliber 1 year ago
James M has a deeper voice--that's probably why you prefer him.
flaze3 2 years ago
i totally agree....j morris is so much better!! his voice is so much richer and his conveys the emotions better (for me)
jablackdiamond 2 years ago
And they cant ruin it even though the chorus is mostly Protestant...
confidopax 3 years ago
My precious friend sent this to me...what a great gift of beauty!
surfsidebaby12 3 years ago 2
pur bonheur....avez-vous bien écoutez ?
noedubois 3 years ago
Very lovely version of this beautiful Libera Me. Excellent soloist and the choral voices are very clear. Good tempo, too.
Naomi2025 3 years ago
Wonderful soloist.
Naomi2025 3 years ago 2
agreed :)
jeskehendriks 3 years ago
I like this version much better than the Morris one.
RheaNemesis23 3 years ago
way better than james morris's version. the clarity is outstanding
JRodjan2 3 years ago
James Morris version is definitely better.
eprime9000 3 years ago
best recording on youtube! LOVE this soloists voice!
eyesopenuw 3 years ago 18
This is a good recording of a fantastic piece of music.
njj1977 3 years ago 4
fantastic.
rogermoore27 3 years ago 6