Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (A German Requiem)

“The star of this show is the vast Atlanta Symphony Chorus, the pianissimo of whose 200 singers is an awesome sound. So, too, is their threatening crescendo molto in Denn Alles Fleisch. They create graceful lines of sound in Wie Lieblich, with the 50 tenors relishing the top Gs and none of them shirking the As. They deserve better soloists than the baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, whose gruff, lived-in voice lacks freshness. Elsewhere, the soprano Twyla Robinson's voice is oversweet, even sickly, at times. The orchestra has depth and power, but seems to want to canter away from Spano's over-moderate speeds.” The Times, 12th July 2008 ***

“Spano's interpretation pays acute attention to the communicative traffic between singers and instruments. …the choir's many hushed pianissimi (and excellent German) allow the big cadence points of each movement truly to blaze.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2008

“As an account of one of Brahms's most personal works this version remains curiously uninvolving.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2008 ***

'Herreweghe's innate sense of Brahms's musical lines is evident everywhere as he sculpts this works. Herreweghe's combined choirs respond magnificently to his direction.' - Stereophile

“The manifold blessings of having probably the world's greatest symphony orchestra as one's hometown band include the recurring phenomenon of having almost excessively familiar works sound ever fresh and new. With our superlative Philharmonic that happened most recently October 26 with the German Requiem of Johannes Brahms conducted by Sir Simon Rattle … The prolonged hush from Berlin's sophisticated audience following the dying fall of the final notes in Berlin's Philharmonie spoke for itself.” Paul Moor, Musical America, October 2006

Diapason d'Or & FFFF. de Télérama Awards
Great Choral singing, glorious solo work, an orchestra on magnificent form and a conductor who understands this music innately - James Jolly, Gramophone 1000th issue