Mozart Requiem: Realisations

£13.00

Elin Manahan Thomas Soprano
Christine Rice Mezzo-Soprano
James Gilchrist Tenor
Christopher Purves Bass-Baritone

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Academy of Ancient Music
Directed by Stephen Cleobury

Elin Manahan Thomas Narrator (Disc 2)
Additional dialogue from: Any Doe (Track 1), Kate Caro (Track 3), Simon Kiln (Track 3), Duncan Druce (Track 3) and Michael Finnissy (Track 3)

Released 8 April 2013

SACD + CD

SKU: KGS0002

Mozart Requiem: Realisations is an exploration of the history and influence of Mozart’s famous Requiem. It begins with a full recording of the Requiem in the popular completion by Mozart’s pupil and amanuensis, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, followed by full movements completed by other composers including Michael Finnissy and Duncan Druce.

The second disc presents a 68-minute audio documentary on the musical roots of the Requiem written by the renowned Mozart scholar Cliff Eisen, featuring musical examples from the Requiem and the works from which it draws inspiration whilst highlighting striking similarities between Mozart’s work and that of several contemporaries and predecessors.

The Choir, conducted by its Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury, is joined for the recording by the Academy of Ancient Music playing period instruments. The soloists are Elin Manahan Thomas, Christine Rice and former King’s College choral scholars, James Gilchrist and Christopher Purves.

Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury, said, “It is particularly special for me to have made this recording because I have known this work since I was a child and loved it very much. To have the chance to record it and to express some of my thoughts about it is just wonderful.

“I think our recording with boy trebles and period instruments will bring to the piece a particular strain of authenticity, and I hope that the sound world it inhabits will reflect something of what Mozart himself might have heard, if he had lived to hear the work performed.”

Outstanding – International Record Review

“Revelatory” – The Observer

Disc 1 Playing time (Disc 1) – 62:17
Requiem
Introitus
1 Requiem aeternam 04:07 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Kyrie
2 Kyrie eleison 02:39 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Sequentia
3 i. Dies irae 01:55 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
4 ii. Tuba mirum 02:59 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
5 iii. Rex tremendae 01:51 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
6 iv. Recordare 04:59 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
7 v. Confutatis 02:37 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
8 vi. Lacrimosa 02:50 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Offertorium
9 i. Domine Jesu 03:24 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
10 ii. Hostias 04:00 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Sanctus
11 Sanctus 01:26 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Benedictus
12 Benedictus 04:50 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Agnus Dei
13 Agnus Dei 02:54 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Communio
14 i. Lux aeterna 02:31 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
15 ii. Cum sanctis tuis 02:49 Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus ed. Süssmayr
Requiem Realisations:
16 Amen (Fugue) 01:41 Maunder, C Richard F
17 Sanctus / Osanna 01:34 Levin, Robert D / Beyer, Franz
18 Benedictus 07:10 Druce, Duncan
19 Cum sanctis tuis 02:53 Levin, Robert D
20 Lacrimosa 03:08 Finnissy, Michael
Disc 2 Playing time (Disc 2) – 66:31
Mozart’s Requiem: An Audio Documentary
1 Chapter 1: Mozart in 1791 and the commissioning of the Requiem 13:45
2 Chapter 2: The Composition of the Requiem 18:21
3 Chapter 3: Reception 34:25
Total playing time – 128:48

kgs0002-digital-booklet-cover

Disc One (Hybrid-SACD, with high-resolution stereo)

Recorded in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, by kind permission of the Provost and Fellows, 26 & 27 June and 27 September 2011. Recorded at 96kHz 24 bit PCM.

Producer & Editor  Simon Kiln
Balance Engineer  Arne Akselberg
Technical Engineer  Richard Hale
Executive Producer  Kate Caro

Disc Two (CD with standard stereo)

Audio dialogue recorded at Voiceover Soho, August, September & November 2012. Excerpts recorded in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, by kind permission of the Provost and Fellows, September 2011.

Producers  Simon Kiln & Andy Doe
Voiceover Engineer  Teitur Árnason
Editor  Simon Kiln