Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
KHCD-2011-086 (STEREO) – Maurice Duruflé: Requiem, for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 9 – Hélène Bouvier, mezzo-soprano; Xavier Depraz, bass; Phillipe Caillard Chorale; Stéphane Caillat Chorale;; Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier, organ; Lamoureux Orchestra – conducted by Maurice Duruflé; Francis Poulenc – Mass in G (1937); Motet: Hodie Christus natus est; Motet: Quem vidistis pastores – The Festival Singers of Toronto conducted by Elmer Iseler – Duruflé’s Requiem is one of the few settings that gently accompanies a loved one to the threshold of eternal rest, without bombast or threat of eternal damnation. Much as Fauré in his own Requiem, Duruflé uses the heritage of Gregorian plain-song, preserving its color and line. This recording, made in November 1958, has the authority of the composer himself conducting. A mint Erato LP was used in transcription.
The Poulenc works reflect that composer’ s humanistic, vernacular settings of religious texts. The Mass is like no other setting; some of it, such as the Gloria and the two Hosannas, seem more suited for brass and timpani than voices, but the effect proves very well judged. The Motets reflect the same style of the Mass in miniature, perhaps with a bit more lyricism. The Poulenc works are deftly performed by the Toronto Festival Singers, led by its founder, Elmer Iseler, from an early pressing Seraphim LP. Click here for an MP3 sample.
New titles for November have been posted on Klassic Haus Restorations – more to come! Cheers – Curt Timmons