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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: One of the Best Mozart Requiems!
Post Subject: A recent review of the second ScherchenPosted by clarkjohnsen on: 3/11/2006
Scherchen's Moving Mozart Requiem, June 11, 2005
I have little objectivity when it comes to this magisterial Scherchen account of Mozart's Requiem. My first versions on LP in the 1970's were Bruno Walter's and Sir Thomas Beecham's (the former now on Sony CD and the latter available as a Sony CD import). Both were rather poorly recorded (especially Beecham's), but both conductors then enjoyed huge reputations as eminent Mozarteans. Then, quite by chance in a used LP store, I picked up this 1958 stereo Scherchen account on a cheap 2-LP set from ABC Music Guild (a re-issue of the Westminster original). Who on earth was Scherchen? I soon found out, and Beecham and Walter soon became history. And thus began a personal love affair with the music making of this quixotic conductor that has persisted ever since.
This is not a performance that will appeal to every taste. It is slower than most, and there are no concessions whatsoever to Historically Informed Performance (HIP) practices. So know ye that I am not the least bit HIP - I rejoice in being a resolute square when it comes to music making like this, drenched as it is in devotion, passion and sincerity. True, it does not move very fast, but it is VERY moving. The choral work is ineffably beautiful, the soloists are all satisfying, and the recorded sound is more than adequate (DG Westminster's transfer is a tad veiled compared to my LPs, but such is often the case when comparing CDs with good quality LP originals). My only genuine complaint: the 4 Motets that were included in the LP set are omitted here. Those were NOT conducted by Scherchen, but by one of his finest peers from that era - Rene Leibowitz - and they included the loveliest Ave Verum Corpus it has ever been my pleasure to hear. To my taste, the ONLY Mozart Requiem that rivals this one is Scherchen's earlier 1953 account (mono Westminster LP), with the superb quartet of Magda Lazlo, Hilda Rossl-Majdan, Petre Muntenau and Richard Standen. Perhaps a shade livelier, but in duller sound. Hopefully it too will be resurrected on CD but, in truth, I still prefer this later one.
Needless to say, I keep them both.
Highest recommendation.
Jeff Lipscomb Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site