Mozart - Requiem: VIII. Communio: Lux Aeterna

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem Mass in D minor KV 626 (completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayer, revised edition by Franz Beyer)

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor)
Concentus Musicus Wien (orchestra)
Arnold Schönberg Chor (choir)
Gerald Finley (bass)
Kurt Streit (tenor)
Bernarda Fink (alto)
Christine Schäfer (soprano)

I didn't like Harnoncourt's previous Requiems all that much, but this one is amazing: From the lush, full SACD sound of the (perfectly played) live recording to the stunning balance between the harsh, dramatic and the quiet, mourning parts. He's using the newest critical edition of the Süssmayer Requiem completion, which makes for a sleeker, cleaner and at times harsher orchestration, closer to that of the Introitus - but it leaves the Süssmayer parts intact otherwise, there is no Amen fugue after the Lacrimosa.

But it's not just the revised score that makes this one stand out, the playing of the Concentus Musicus is precise when it needs to be, soften when the score calls for it - I've never heard trombones this piercing in the Dies Irae before, truly apocalyptic, the strings in the Confutatis and Rex Tremendae are crushing, raw - no trace of the saccharine, overly romanticized Requiems of the past (Karajan is spinning in his grave, goofy tracksuit and all), here all the mourning is laced with sheer terror.

The Arnold Schönberg Choir is excellent as usual and the recording captures its color perfectly. As for the soloist, Gerald Finley and Christine Schäfer stand out particularly - Finley's bass aria in the Tuba Mirum is not only perfectly in tune with the trombone, it's also completely free of unnecessary vibrato, this is one of the least operatic Requiems recorded. As for Christine Schäfer, her soprano is of otherworldly color and expression, which might have something to with her personal life: Her long-term spouse, with whom she had two children died unexpectedly at 40 just two months before this Requiem was recorded. Deeply touching. Kurt Streit and Bernarda Fink are no less excellent, on a whole the whole ensemble blends together perfectly.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lux
• Aeterna
• Classical
• Mozart
• Requiem
• Harnoncourt
• Concentus
• Musicus
• Arnold
• Schönber
• Chor
• Schäfer
• Fink
• Finley
• Streit

[rafaelvicentecarlos]

Congratulations

[SuperCartiel]

@childrenofthegrave1 nothing weird about it, man.

[1DaKo]

Hip-Hop head here, and this is absolutely fantastic!

[Hellscape310]

@childrenofthegrave1 Not weird at all, metal is very melodic and oftentimes intelligently composed.

[MultiEdison10]

fuck me



[CZPhantom01]

Doesn´t the first part of this piece correspond to the introitus?

[MelioraCogito]

@covanentsbane I'd have to say the repetition in Lux Aeterna may perhaps be influenced by Philip Glass - who is fun to listen to once in a while (esp. the opening sequence of Naqoyqatsi with Yo-Yo Ma playing the cello)

[MelioraCogito]

@childrenofthegrave1 There is nothing weird about it – I'm over 50 & I too have eclectic tastes in music from classic rock & metal to trance/house/electronic & soundtracks to contemporary & classical orchestral/choral & early period music. This is one of my favorite Mozart choral symphonies – I have two versions of the Requiem of which the Boston Baroque’s 1995 completion by Robert Levin is my favorite. Can't say I have a favorite composer – they're all awesome in their own right.

[ComposerJMA]

Not too strange. I am a classical composer, yet I have received about 10% jazz/swing related commissions.

[carocatho]

@childrenofthegrave1 That is not weird at all! :) It actually has a lot of sense that you like both classical music and death metal. I've heard heavy metal and classical music musical structure is very similar. And these genres are both very intense.

[covanentsbane]

This truly puts the more common Lux Aeterna in perspective. While I have all respect for Clint Mansell's Lux Aeterna, I have to admit that the repetition lacks a certain effect. It's dramatic, sure, but it thrives on drama without straining for a true emotion. This reminds me once again about the beauty and masterpiece of proper classical orchestra pieces. To listen to a good conductor direct the music of a well-known composer is incredibly evocative, regardless of your musical preference.

[rjho1997]

its kind of like Haggard.