BENJAMIN BRITTEN – War Requiem [3LP]

Format: 3 x LP
Catalogue No.: 4853769
Barcode: 028948537693
Release Date: 03 Nov 2023
Genre: Classical

On 10th January 1963 sessions were completed at London’s Kingsway Hall for this world premiere recording of Britten’s War Requiem. Sixty years later, Decca have made new high definition 24-bit/192 kHz transfers of the original quarter-inch stereo mastertapes at British Grove Studios. Conducted by the composer and featuring the three soloists for whom it was written, this still remains, for many, the definitive recording. The vinyl is cut to lacquer at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios, and this is the first LP release of the secret recording of Britten’s rehearsals for the War Requiem since the sole pressing gifted by Decca to Britten on his 50th birthday in November 1963. The truly expansive booklet includes excerpts from John Culshaw’s autobiography Putting the Record Straight; reminiscences from three of the original 1963 Decca recording crew; technical notes; detailed essays on the War Requiem and the recording sessions; and rare and new photographs.

TRACKLIST:
LP 1 & 2
I. Requiem aeternam
a. Requiem aeternam Chorus
b. What Passing Bells for These who die as Cattle? Tenor

II. Dies irae
a. Dies irae Chorus
b. Bugles Sang, Saddening the Evening Air Baritone
c. Liber Scriptus Soprano
d. Out there, We've Walked quite Friendly up to Death Tenor & Baritone
e. Recordare Jesu pie Chorus
f. Be Slowly Lifted Up Baritone
g. Dies irae Chorus
h. Lacrimosa dies illa Soprano & Chorus
i. Move Him into the Sun Tenor

III. Offertorium
a. Domine Jesu Christe
b. So Abram Rose, and Clave the Wood

IV. Sanctus
a. Sanctus Soprano & Chorus
b. After the Blast of Lightning from the East Baritone

V. Agnus Dei
One ever Hangs Where Shelled Roads Part Tenor & chorus

VI. Libera me
a. Libera me, Domine Chorus
b. It Seemed that out of Battle I Escaped Tenor
c. Let Us Sleep Now ... In Paradisum Baritone, Tenor, Boys, Soprano & Chorus

LP3
Requiem aeternam Rehearsal
Dies irae Rehearsal of the opening section
Dies irae Discussion in the control room between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (via her interpreter), then between John Culshaw and Galina Vishnevskaya
Dies irae Rehearsal of end of movement
Offertorium Rehearsal
Sanctus Rehearsal
Sanctus Discussion in the control room between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (via her interpreter)
Agnus Dei Discussion in the control room between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw
Libera me Discussion in the control room between Britten and John Culshaw
Libera me Rehearsal
Libera me Rehearsal of closing page
Closing remarks

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