Album

What can be said about Britten's War Requiem that hasn't already been said? That it is brilliantly composed, endlessly fascinating, and profoundly affecting? That it is lyrically heartrending, musically heartbreaking, and emotionally devastating? That it is the single most persuasive setting of the Requiem text of the twentieth century? That is the single most compelling reason to be a pacifist that's ever been put to music? It's all been said before.

What can be said about Britten's own recording that hasn't already been said? That the soloists—soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, tenor Peter Pears, and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau—are not only three of the great singers of the twentieth century and the creators of their parts, but for all intents and purposes definitive? That the Bach Choir, the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and especially the Highgate School Choir are absolutely magnificent and unbearably moving? That the Melos Ensemble and the London Symphony Orchestra are altogether wonderful and overwhelmingly powerful? That John Culshaw's production was in its time and remains in our time as vivid as life and immediate as death? That Britten's conducting is, without a doubt and beyond all argument, unsurpassable? It's all been said before.

What can be said that hasn't already been said is that this particular release of the War Requiem includes about 50 minutes in 11 separate cues of Britten's rehearsals for the recording. These rehearsals don't add anything to the work or the performance, but they do allow the listener to hear Britten create the performance, sometimes note by note, and thereby allow the listener to hear the work with much greater clarity. For those who already own one of the previous releases of this recording, this might not seem like a compelling reason to pick up this release. But for anyone who deeply loves the work and the composer, the rehearsals will be fascinating listening.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Benjamin Britten Composer War Requiem, for STB soloists, boys' voices, chorus, chamber orchestra, orchestra, and organ, Op.66 Work 1:21:00 London Symphony Chorus Chorus/Choir, Highgate School Choir Chorus/Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Bach Choir Chorus/Choir, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Baritone, Sir David Willcocks Chorus/Choir Director, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Melos Ensemble of London Ensemble, Galina Vishnevskaya Soprano, Edward T. Chapman Chorus/Choir Director, Simon Preston Organ
1	1a.Requiem aeternam: Requiem aeternam	5:56			$0.99
2	1b.Requiem aeternam: What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?	3:32			$0.99
3	2a.Dies irae: Dies irae	3:36			$0.99
4	2b.Dies irae: Bugles sang	2:33			$0.99
5	2c.Dies irae: Liber scriptus proferetur	2:56			$0.99
6	2d.Dies irae: Out there	1:56			$0.49
7	2e.Dies irae: Recordare Jesu pie	4:48			$0.99
8	2g.Dies irae: Be slowly lifted up	1:52			$0.49
9	2h.Dies irae: Dies irae	1:11			$0.49
10	2i.Dies irae: Lacrimosa dies illa	1:54			$0.49
11	2j.Dies irae: Move him into the sun	4:47			$0.99
12	3a.Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe	3:30			$0.99
13	3b.Offertorium: So Abram rose	6:06			$0.99
14	4a.Sanctus: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus	6:02			$0.99
15	4b.Sanctus: After the blast of lightning	3:51			$0.99

CD 2 of 2
1	5.Agnus Dei	3:43			$0.99
2	6a.Libera me: Libera me, Domine	7:37			$1.49
3	6b.Libera me: It seemed that out of battle I escaped	9:34			$1.49
4	6c.Libera me: Let us sleep now... In paradisum	5:36			$0.99
Benjamin Britten Composer War Requiem, for STB soloists, boys' voices, chorus, chamber orchestra, orchestra, and organ, Op.66...War Requiem Rehearsal Tracks Work 49:24 London Symphony Chorus Chorus/Choir, Highgate School Choir Chorus/Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Baritone, Sir David Willcocks Chorus/Choir Director, Bach Choir Chorus/Choir, Peter Pears Tenor, Benjamin Britten Conductor, Melos Ensemble of London Ensemble, John Culshaw Spoken Word, Galina Vishnevskaya Soprano, Edward T. Chapman Chorus/Choir Director, Simon Preston Organ
5	Rehearsing War Requiem. Requiem aeternam. Rehearsal	7:18			$1.49
6	Rehearsing War Requiem. Dies irae. Rehearsal of the opening section	9:45			$1.49
7	Rehearsing War Requiem. Dies irae. Discussion in the control room between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (via her interpreter), then	2:03			$0.99
8	Rehearsing War Requiem. Dies irae. Rehearsal of end of movement	4:36			$0.99
9	Rehearsing War Requiem. Offertorium. Rehearsal	8:22			$1.49
10	Rehearsing War Requiem. Sanctus. Rehearsal	6:14			$0.99
11	Rehearsing War Requiem. Sanctus. Discussion in the control room between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (via her interpreter)	0:17			$0.49
12	Rehearsing War Requiem. Agnus Dei. Discussion in the control room between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw	1:04			$0.49
13	Rehearsing War Requiem. Libera me. Discussion in the control room between Britten and John Culshaw	1:10			$0.49
14	Rehearsing War Requiem. Libera me. Rehearsal	5:19			$0.99
15	Rehearsing War Requiem. Libera me. Rehearsal of closing page	3:16			$0.99