Verdi - Requiem / Fleming · Borodina · Bocelli · D'Arcangelo · Gerviev

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Verdi's Requiem demands a quartet of soloists who could be cast as leads in Aida, along with a virtuoso chorus and orchestra and a conductor who can balance the score's heaven-shaking drama with its spiritual longings. Small surprise, then, that few recordings, including this one, can fulfill all those demands. Renée Fleming's soprano is perhaps the most beautiful such instrument before the public today, and Olga Borodina's mezzo has the equivalent smoothness and texture, making for a gorgeous duet in the "Agnus Dei." Idlebrando D'Arcangelo, too, has a lovely voice, though, like so many of today's basses, it's tilted toward the top and lacks the deep black resonance that fills out the part. Andrea Bocelli? Let's just say he's no asset to the production. His fans will love him, but Verdians will be appalled. The voice is unsupported, its small size mitigated by close microphoning, and his phrasing is rudimentary. Chorus and orchestra are fine, though they lack the tonal shadings the very best bring to this music. Valery Gergiev leads a dynamic performance, ear-shattering in the "Dies Irae," reverential elsewhere. In sum, a decent Requiem that falls short of the best, including those of the stereo era led by Solti, Giulini, and Barenboim, and vintage recordings by Toscanini, de Sabata, and Serafin. --Dan Davis

Verdi - Requiem / Fleming · Borodina · Bocelli · D'Arcangelo · Gerviev, Music, Giuseppe Verdi, Valery Gergiev, Andrea Bocelli, Renée Fleming, Kirov Theater Kirov Theater Chorus, Olga Borodina, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Requiem/Requiem Section

Verdi - Requiem / Fleming · Borodina · Bocelli · D'Arcangelo · Gerviev
Average customer rating:

let ME sing that

It Could Have Been Sublime

Phillips' calculating cynicism undermines the good performances here

Amazing soprano, mezzo-soprano, bass, and choir.....terrible tenor

I enjoyed this recording

Verdi - Requiem / Fleming · Borodina · Bocelli · D'Arcangelo · Gerviev
Giuseppe Verdi , Valery Gergiev , Andrea Bocelli , Renée Fleming , Kirov Theater Kirov Theater Chorus , Olga Borodina , and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005A7JM
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

Messa da requiem: I - Requiem
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Dies irae
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Tuba mirum
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Liber scriptus
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Quid sum miser
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Rex tremendae majestatis
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Recordare
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Ingemisco
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Confutatis
Messa da requiem: II - Dies irai: Lacrimosa

Tracks:

Messa da requiem: III - Offertorio
Messa da requiem: IV - Sanctus
Messa da requiem: V - Agnus Dei
Messa da requiem: VI - Lux aeterna
Messa da requiem: VII - Libera me

Amazon.com

Verdi's Requiem demands a quartet of soloists who could be cast as leads in Aida, along with a virtuoso chorus and orchestra and a conductor who can balance the score's heaven-shaking drama with its spiritual longings. Small surprise, then, that few recordings, including this one, can fulfill all those demands. Renée Fleming's soprano is perhaps the most beautiful such instrument before the public today, and Olga Borodina's mezzo has the equivalent smoothness and texture, making for a gorgeous duet in the "Agnus Dei." Idlebrando D'Arcangelo, too, has a lovely voice, though, like so many of today's basses, it's tilted toward the top and lacks the deep black resonance that fills out the part. Andrea Bocelli? Let's just say he's no asset to the production. His fans will love him, but Verdians will be appalled. The voice is unsupported, its small size mitigated by close microphoning, and his phrasing is rudimentary. Chorus and orchestra are fine, though they lack the tonal shadings the very best bring to this music. Valery Gergiev leads a dynamic performance, ear-shattering in the "Dies Irae," reverential elsewhere. In sum, a decent Requiem that falls short of the best, including those of the stereo era led by Solti, Giulini, and Barenboim, and vintage recordings by Toscanini, de Sabata, and Serafin. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

let ME sing that.......2007-03-10

I always loved to sing at school, in the choir and .... also while taking a shower. I have a tenor voice and can hit the right notes with a probability of 98%. I have never had any lessons but I AM SURE I WOULD NOT SOUND WORSE THAN MR. BOCELLI!
Stay away, this recording is RIDICULOUS.

It Could Have Been Sublime.......2006-09-14

What, one must ask ones self, is Andrea Bocelli doing in this ensemble? What could have been the definative recording is flawed. How very, very sad.

Phillips' calculating cynicism undermines the good performances here.......2006-09-02

There are too many good performances (Borodina's in particular) here merely to write this recording off as abysmal in every respect. However, the cynical approach taken by the Phillips executives, as they try and lure the legions of Bocelli fans into buying a recording most would generally avoid, simply cannot be ignored. I don't know if I should admire Bocelli for having the balls to do this (knowing that his deficiencies might be further exposed) or to have contempt for his arrogance (thinking that he might get away with it). In any case, Bocelli's woeful inadequacies have already been discussed at length and should be more than self-evident at this point.

I suppose one can look past the wimpy tenor and still appreciate the recording as a whole. Unfortunately, there are other flaws that additionally detract from the overall quality, not the least of which is Gergiev's less-than-comfortable fit with the non-Russian repertoire. It is not a bad effort, but the Kirov just does not crackle with the same energy as it does when the piece is Russian...and I don't think that this will be changing anytime soon. Likewise, the sometimes unruly Kirov chorus proves to be more of a hindrance than an asset to the overall production.

So it isn't just about Bocelli-bashing, as hugely enjoyable as that may be. There are enough problems overall to make this recording, at best, a below-average selection for the Requiem. One for the ages, this ain't.

Amazing soprano, mezzo-soprano, bass, and choir.....terrible tenor.......2006-06-30

This recording is well done, with the exception of Andrea Bocelli.... I'm not trying to be heartless, but let's be honest here, the only reason Andrea Bocelli is famous, is because of his blindness. He could never join the ranks of Domingo, Heppner, Galouzine, Pavarotti, or Carreras. Even a truly good lyric tenor like Paul Groves would have been a much better choice than Andrea Bocelli. At least Paul, although lacking the dramatic thrust needed to sing Verdi, can resonate and sing with extreme musicianship and beauty. I have no idea why Andrea Bocelli was chosen. I actually feel bad for him.... he had to sing with the other amazing perfomers on this recording. Renee Fleming is electric, her velvety tone and full lyric voice adds such sparkle to this work. She is most definitely one of the greatest sopranos of the last century. Olga Borodina is truly amazing, she represents the sound of a true heavy mezzo with beautiful tone. She doesn't over darken like so many dramatic mezzos do. She and Fleming blend so well together. Idlebrando D'Arcangelo is a bass to die for. You can tell that he is rather young, but that doesn't bother me at all. He brings a fresh sound that doesn't sound too dark or affected. He has such a rich and vibrant tone. Lastly the chorus is outstanding, I truly feel the rath of god when i hear this choir sing!!! Valery Gergiev did an amazing job. It's just unfortunate that Andrea Bocelli had to ruin more music from the classical repertoire. He needs to stick to pieces like "O sole mio" or "Caro mio ben" and leave Verdi's music to tenors that are truly "Verdian."

I enjoyed this recording.......2006-06-26

I read all the negative reviews before listening to this and believe the negative reactions tended to be overdone.

I've heard Pavarotti, Luchetti, Tucker, and Bjoerling in this Requiem, and have no problem with Bocelli's rendition. I think Bocelli has a very pleasant voice; a light tenor like Richard Lewis. If there was any engineering enhancement going on, I couldn't hear it. He seems to blend very well with the other soloists, too.

I thought Fleming got a bit too over-dramatic to the point where she was sacrificing vocal quality. Borodina and d'Arcangelo, on the other hand, let the inherent drama of the music speak for itself; they sounded great.

The choir is not drowned out as some reviewers say. I thought they did a wonderful job. I especially enjoyed hearing the wonderfully distinct Russian sound of the choral basses.

I found the orchestra quite electrifying to listen to. I loved their work in Dies Irae.

Overall, I found this a very exciting version of the Requiem. Excellent liner notes include text and translations; very handsome packaging.

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