Marriner: Mozart – Requiem, Coronation Mass, Exsultate, Jubilate, Litany (2 CD, APE)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Erna Spoorenberg, Ileana Cotrubas, Helen Watts, Robert Tear, John Shirley-Quirk, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus, Schola Cantorum Of Oxford
Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Decca
Size: 518 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
01. Exsultate, jubilate, K.165 – 1. Exsultate, jubilate
02. Exsultate, jubilate, K.165 – 2. Fulget amica dies
03. Exsultate, jubilate, K.165 – 3. Tu virginum corona
04. Exsultate, jubilate, K.165 – 4. Alleluia

05. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 1. Kyrie
06. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 2. Gloria
07. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 3. Credo
08. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 4. Sanctus
09. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 5. Benedictus
10. Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation” – 6. Agnus Dei

11. Litaniae Lauretanae BMV in D, K.195 – 1. Kyrie eleison
12. Litaniae Lauretanae BMV in D, K.195 – 2. Sancta Maria
13. Litaniae Lauretanae BMV in D, K.195 – 3. Salus infirmorum
14. Litaniae Lauretanae BMV in D, K.195 – 4. Regina angelorum
15. Litaniae Lauretanae BMV in D, K.195 – 5. Agnus Dei

CD 02
01. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Requiem (Introitus)
02. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Kyrie
03. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Dies irae (Sequenz)
04. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Tuba mirum (Sequenz)
05. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Rex tremendae (Sequenz)
06. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Recordare (Sequenz)
07. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Confutatis (Sequenz)
08. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – 3. Sequentia: Lacrimosa
09. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Domine Jesu (Offertorium)
10. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Hostias (Offertorium)
11. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Sanctus
12. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Benedictus
13. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Agnus Dei
14. Requiem in D minor, K.626 – Lux aeterna (Communio)

I love it… Now

My review will not be as scholarly as Altoman’s excellent review in which he gave it four stars. I bought this probably 15 or so years ago, wasn’t really into masses, but liked Mozart generally, liked Sir Neville Marriner and Cotrubas and so bought it. Probably listened to it three or four times until recently. Now retired for awhile, more time to listen and have been more into masses. Better prepared, I love this double CD. Clearly top quality all the way through! I have to admit that I can’t get into the Requiem, but that is because it is a requiem and I’m one of those people who gets upset when his favorite sopranos (as they persist in doing) have affairs with tenors, suffer and die. Not many people who buy this two CD set will be at all disappointed. Maybe if I had Altoman’s education I would only give it four stars, but I really like this collection.

Excellent traditional performance

There are numerous recordings of this masterpiece, with a wide range of styles. This present one is a “traditional” performance, rather different from the now-prevalent HIP (historically-informed performance). Performed with gravity at a generally broader speed (54 minutes), the listener will feel the sober emotions contained in the work for funeral services. Isn’t this how requiem music should be performed, rather than dancing along at faster tempi?

All the four soloists, particularly Ileana Cotrubas (sop.), are excellent. The choir of Academy of St Martin-in-the -Field, is on top form. Neville Marriner made this recording in 1977, using an edition (1971) by Franz Beyer, who “cleaned up” Sussmayr’s score. But, not being a musicologist, I can’t really tell the difference in detail. I don’t think this Beyer’s edition should put off prospective listeners or buyers.

My favourite recording has been the one by Peter Schreier (on Philips), and the present recording by Marriner comes to close second.

This 2-CD set also has Coronation Mass and two other works which are also beautifully performed.