Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

On January 10, 1963, recording sessions for this world premiere recording of Britten's 'War Requiem' were completed in London. In 2023, sixty years later, Decca has made new high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz transfers of the original quarter-inch stereo master tapes at British Grove Studios for the best possible sound quality. Conducted by the composer and featuring the three soloists (Galina Vishnevskaya, Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) for whom the work was written, this still remains for many the reference recording par excellence. The truly comprehensive companion book includes excerpts from John Culshaw's autobiography, 'Putting the Record Straight,' recollections from three members of the original 1963 Decca recording team, technical notes, extensive essays on the 'War Requiem' and the recording sessions, and rare, never-before-seen photographs.

Disc 1
1: Requiem Aeternam
2: What Passing Bells for These Who Die As Cattle?
3: Dies Irae
4: Bugles Sang, Saddening the Evening Air
5: Liber Scriptus
6: Out There, We've Walked Quite Friendly Up to Death
7: Recordare Jesu Pie
8: Be Slowly Lifted Up
9: Dies Irae
10: Lacrimosa Dies Illa
11: Move Him Into the Sun
12: Domine Jesu Christe
13: So Abram Rose, and Clave the Wood

Disc 2
1: Sanctus
2: After the Blast of Lightning from the East
3: One Ever Hangs Where Shelled Roads Part
4: Libera Me, Domine
5: It Seemed That Out of Battle I Escaped
6: Let Us Sleep Now...In Paradisum
7: Requiem Aeternam - Rehearsal

Disc 3
1: Dies Irae - Rehearsal of the Opening Section
2: Dies Irae - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter), Then Between John Culshaw and Galina Vishnev
3: Dies Irae - Rehearsal of End of Movement
4: Offertorium - Rehearsal
5: Sanctus - Rehearsal
6: Sanctus - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter)
7: Agnus Dei - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw
8: Libera Me - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and John Culshaw
9: Libera Me - Rehearsal
10: Libera Me - Rehearsal of Closing Page
11: Closing Remarks

Composer: Benjamin Britten

Number of Discs: 3

Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

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