Classical Music Buffs: Who Wrote Your Favorite Requiem?

[stopbush]

Poll question: Classical Music Buffs: Who Wrote Your Favorite Requiem?

The mass for the dead, as it were. Which version is your fav?

Vote below:

[TahitiNut]

1. Requiem in D Minor - Wolfie

[elperromagico]

2. Verdi's Requiem is big, splashy, dramatic.

Generally I would go with Mozart, but this morning, I'm a Verdi state of mind.

[daligirrl]

3. I think I prefer to listen to the Mozart. . .

The Verdi is more exciting to perform.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. I absolutely agree!

[terrya]

7. I second the Verdi Requiem.

Exactly as you said.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Berlioz..and no one can bum the shit out of me like Mahler

[flamingyouth]

5. Requiem in D Minor

:dreamy: I'm going to listen to it now, in fact.

[Blue-Jay]

6. Gustav Mahler - Symphony #9

Although not technically a "requiem", it was his last, best piece. It embodied the spirit of a song for the dead. The final movement "Adagio" is considered to be his farewell to his existance. He knew that his time was waning, and never (in my opinion) has a composer said goodbye in so grand a fashion.

Aside from that, I'd pick the Mozart and the Berlioz. Theie requiems were the best offerings that they had ever composed.

Check out the Herbert von Karajan version if you get a chance. The Berstein version is wonderful as well.

[Misunderestimator]

8. Mozart... though I do love the drama of the Verdi Requiem n/t

[Misunderestimator]

9. I love most of Britten's music, but the only recording I've heard...

of Britten's Requiem was with his lover/tenor Jon Vickers... I don't care much for his strident voice.

[stopbush]

11. Not Jon Vickers, but Peter Pears.

Vickers is a devout fundy Xtian and Canadian. I don't think Vickers ever sang the War Requiem though he was the best Peter Grimes ever.

Pears and Vickers' voice were quite dissimilar. Pears was almost a falsetto-like sound that could get quite throaty and constricted. Vickers had a bigger dramatic voice though he often crooned his way through softer sections. I heard both of the live at the Met and actually met Jon Vickers once.

As far as the Britten/Pears relationship, you're correct.

[Misunderestimator]

14. You're right! Wow... it's been a while...

I was trying to remember Pears, but came up with Vickers. And Peter Grimes is a GREAT work!! Thanks for the correction.

[Burma Jones]

10. The Brahms is very touching, but is Protestant, not a Mass

I saw it in New York, with the Philharmionic, a few short weeks after 9/11. It was perfect and I have huge chills just thinking about it.

I sing Tenor and enjoy singing the Brahms more than the Mozart but not as much as the Verdi. Faure also has an incredible Requiem.

[stopbush]

12. You're right, of course. Brahms' German Requiem is more a

requiem for the living.

BTW - I just watched a DVD of the Brahms tonight - Karajan on Sony. Not bad, though I dislike Kathy Battle's voice tremendously. The night before I watched his Sony DVD of the Verdi Requiem - not nearly as good as his DG DVD with Price, Cossoto, Pavarotti and Ghiaurov (who just died last week).

[stopbush]

13. Was that NYPO Brahms with Maazel? He's a bud of mine. n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. What?! No Penderecki Polish Requiem?

That gets my vote!!

Though of your list, I'd go with the Durufle.

Also, if I might say, Rabrrrrrr's requiem he wrote in memory of his father is quite moving and exciting.

[ironflange]

16. I've sung many of these

Britten, Faure, Verdi (twice), Mozart, Ockeghem, Brahms. It's a tough pick for me between Britten and Faure, went with Britten. Moving piece, great fun to perform. But the same goes for Faure's. I guess it's apples and oranges.

Verdi's fun, too. Too bad Mozart couldn't finish his. Ockeghem's is like most other early Renaissance masses, but I really like that type of stuff. I find the German Requiem to be just plain dull.

[stopbush]

19. I've sung the Verdi many times...twice at Carnegie Hall. What a blast!

The Durufle is one of my favorites. It's based on Gregorian chant but filtered through the French prism. The Faure is such an intimate piece, but since I discovered the Durufle a number of years ago, the Faure seems like the poor cousin.

I sort of agree with you on the Brahms. I think his best music is his choral/vocal quartet stuff, but the Requiem isn't his most-satifying effort. It's also tough to sing.

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Now can I discuss...

how irritated I am that every commercial or movie clip uses music from these works? Right now I always hear the beginning of (2nd movement) Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem in just about everything. I hate it, especially when the people using it have no concept of what the music is about!!!

[Missy Vixen]

20. Is there anyone else here

who participated in the Mozart Requiem performances around the world on September 11th, 2002?

Julie