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716.0. "Brahms' German Requiem" by DONNER::STEWART () Fri Apr 10 1987 13:58

    Since I've mentioned the Brahms German Requiem in a previous note
    I might as well talk about my first major disapointment.  This piece
    was at the top of my CD list as my vinyl version has suffered through
    *many* years of crummy equipment and lots of use.  I picked up the
    version with James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony and Chorus
    on RCA.  Kathleen Battle is the Soprano, but I'm affraid I don't
    remember the Baritone's name off hand.  I figured that with Levine
    and Battle involved this should be very good.  Unfortunately, it
    is not.
    
    First of all, at one minute-thirty-seconds into the piece there is
    the most obnoxious THUMP (twice) that it startled me out of my chair.
    It's not part of the music and it is louder than what is going on
    at the time.  Second is that the orchestra many times completely
    overpowers the choir.  This is completely unacceptable in that 
    throughout the recording I was struggling to hear what was happening
    in the bass voices.  All I could hear was the Sopranos and Altos.
    Third, the tempo is to dirge like, even for a requiem and too much 
    emphasis is placed on some of the staccato sections to the point of 
    sounding like hiccups.
    
    The one saving grace about the recording is that Kathleen Battle's
    performance is excellant.
    
    So, now the question is:  does anyone out there know of a better
    recording of this piece?  I really will live a less than full life
    without it.  If there is a note/reply that already discusses this
    could you point me to it?  (I did a dir/tit="German Requiem" and
    came up blank.)
    
    Also, I am very into acapella choral music and would love to hear
    about available recordings.
    
    =ken

    Try the one with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony on TELARC.

    re .1
    
    I second that.  In fact, for anything with chorus, try Robert
    Shaw & Co.  Easily the best chorus around, ANYWHERE.
    I'm delighted with the Brahms Requiem I have from them, as
    well as their Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms and Poulenc Gloria.

    
    		George

    Electic Gramophone in Sudbury has the CD of the classic performance
    with Otto Klemperer conducting (although you might find his tempi
    "dirge-like"). I haven't bought it yet (still looking for his
    performances of "Fidelio" and Beethoven's five piano concertos),
    but everything of his that I do have (all the Beethoven symphonies,
    the overtures, and the violin concerto) has been beautifully
    transferred to CD.
    
    Jack Truslow
    
    (Whoops--that should be "Electric," not "Electic.")
    

If the legendary Klemperer performance is finally out on CD, I will buy 
it (when I get a working player...).

The original Angel record was so poorly pressed that the final side was 
not even centered, so there was an audible wow when listening to the 
vinyl. In addition, there was considerable surface noise and assorted 
thuds.  We returned probably four sets from different pressing runs 
(supposedly) and gave up. 

However, that Klemperer performance (hiding behind the vinyl) was the
most inspired one I have heard recorded.  (Check the Penguin writeup.)
I believe that compared to the Klemperer, the Shaw performance lacks
fire and the Levine performance lacks balance. 

Alex