Dvorak: Requiem, Op. 89 Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra & Chor & Antoni Wit

• 1 Introitus: Requiem aeternam - Kyrie (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 10:20
• 2 Graduale: Requiem aeternam (Soprano, Chorus) 05:27
• 3 Sequentia: Dies irae (Chorus) 02:07
• 4 Sequentia: Tuba mirum (Alto, Tenor, Bass, Chorus) 08:39
• 5 Sequentia: Quid sum miser (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 06:21
• 6 Sequentia: Recordare, Jesu Pie (Vocal Quartet) 07:11
• 7 Sequentia: Confutatis maledictis (Chorus) 04:19
• 8 Sequentia: Lacrimosa (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 06:34
• 9 Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 12:13
• 10 Offertorium: Hostias (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 11:49
• 11 Sanctus (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 06:30
• 12 Pie Jesu (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 05:31
• 13 Agnus Dei (Vocal Quartet, Chorus) 10:55
• Total Runtime 01:37:56

Info for Dvorak: Requiem, Op. 89

Antonín Dvořák’s huge popularity in England was built largely on the success of his Stabat Mater, which he had conducted there in 1884 and 1885. It was well suited to the country’s choral traditions and led eventually to a commission for a Requiem, which was premièred in Birmingham in 1891. Written in ten months during tours to Russia, England and Germany, its success was immediate. Sitting closer to the tradition of Cherubini than Verdi, its tone is compassionate and reflective, devoid of unnecessary drama, and movingly crafted with great sophistication.

„The Warsaw Philharmonic Choir are in fine collective voice. Orchestrally, this is a stunning performance, Perfectly blended woodwind are clearly focused on a wide-spread bed of strings. The recording is vividly engineered and everyone involved is on top form.“ (GRAMOPHONE EDITORS CHOICE --Gramophone)

„Dvorák’s Requiem seems to be making a comeback, with new recordings by Järvi, Jansons, and best of all, this one by Antoni Wit, featuring the excellent Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and four first-class soloists. It’s not an easy work to bring off as far as requiems go. Less histrionic than the Berlioz, less operatic than the Verdi, the work is symphonic in conception and structure, with a chromatic “death” motive that runs through most of its movements, and tightly integrated textures requiring careful balances between the soloists, choir, and orchestra.“ (David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com)

„Dvorok’s Requiem, though a great work, requires considerable mastery in performance to put it across. It’s a bit long even by Requiem standards, and a bit grimmer and lighter on consolation than any other Requiem in the standard repertoire; it’s quite demanding of both soloists and orchestra; and its music is not especially ingratiating. That may not make it sound like something you’ll want to listen to, but the good news is that Wit conjures just the right tempos to make it flow, assembles a magnificent quartet of soloists, and as usual makes his Warsaw Philharmonic sound like one of the top orchestras in the world. Its woodwinds glint darkly, its brass glow with burnished fire, and its choir can stand with the best.“ (Steve Holtje, Culture Catch)

Christiane Libor, soprano
Ewa Wolak, alto
Daniel Kirch, tenor
Janusz Monarcha, bass
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Antoni Wit, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Dvorak: Requiem, Op. 89