Biber: Battalia à 10; Requiem à 15 in Concerto

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Biber's grand Requiem in A Major was probably written for the funeral of his employer, Archbishop Maximilian of Salzburg. It is a celebratory piece, with trumpets (and timpani added by Savall) and rich orchestration, quite suitable for a heavenbound soul. The quieter moments ("Sanctus") are just as effective as the big ones ("Dies irae"). The CD's opener, a 13-minute "Battalia" for instruments only, is amazingly colorful and contains some weird, entertaining dissonances. The performances by La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Le Concert des Nations are ideal. Biber seems to be coming into his own lately, and the recent CDs devoted to his work are very exciting. He was apparently a virtuoso who enjoyed making big statements; they deserve to be heard. Lovers of "high Baroque" music will be moved and delighted. --Robert Levine

Biber: Battalia à 10; Requiem à 15 in Concerto, Music, Antoine Ladrette, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Jordi Savall, Le Concert des Nations, Angelo Bartoletti, Eunice Moreira Brandao, Isabel Serrano, Pablo Valetti, Sergi Casademunt, Chamber, Chamber Music & Recitals, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Mixed Chamber Ensemble with Keyboard, Requiem/Requiem Section

Requiem a 15 in Concerto / Battalia a 10
Average customer rating:

Perfect

Record of the year... make that many years ...

A stunning achievement

Opulent Baroque Salzburg

Superbe !

Requiem a 15 in Concerto / Battalia a 10
Biber , Savall , and Capella Reial De Catulunya
Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006RGMP
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Amazon.com

Biber's grand Requiem in A Major was probably written for the funeral of his employer, Archbishop Maximilian of Salzburg. It is a celebratory piece, with trumpets (and timpani added by Savall) and rich orchestration, quite suitable for a heavenbound soul. The quieter moments ("Sanctus") are just as effective as the big ones ("Dies irae"). The CD's opener, a 13-minute "Battalia" for instruments only, is amazingly colorful and contains some weird, entertaining dissonances. The performances by La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Le Concert des Nations are ideal. Biber seems to be coming into his own lately, and the recent CDs devoted to his work are very exciting. He was apparently a virtuoso who enjoyed making big statements; they deserve to be heard. Lovers of "high Baroque" music will be moved and delighted. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Perfect.......2007-07-17

Comparied with the same ages composers, ex Schmelzer, Muffat, Biber got more appreciation on today's audience. I guess the major reason is that his diversity of music, there are excellent music on both vocal and instrument. On the other hand, Savall again express strong emotion and synergy as his past. It would show the perfect collection.

Record of the year... make that many years ..........2007-06-26

This is some of the most beautiful music I ever heard. I thought that there was not much left in Baroque that could impress me. Wow ! What have I missed ...

A stunning achievement.......2007-03-11

The Battalia à 10 is played with great style and charm here. I like the use of two theorbos and a harpsichord and organ on the continuo lines. I have several recordings of this work. Savall's approach is a little more polite than Goebel's and a little more atmospheric than Philip Pickett's quite raw sound. I like all of them. Savall's is, perhaps, the most beautiful recording, even though it doesn't take advantage of the musical effects Biber suggests with as much relish as Goebel or Pickett.

The A Major Requiem à 15 in Concerto is a favourite of mine and the only other recording I've ever heard is Ton Koopman's with his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir on ERATO. I've loved Koopman's recording ever since I bought it, shortly after it was released in the 1990s. It was coupled with the magnificent Vesperæ à 32 voci. I was eager to hear another recording of this little known work. Only two requiems by Biber have survived, this one, in A major and the F minor Requiem. Both are masterpieces and each takes a different approach. The A Major work features trumpets, trombones, timpani, oboes (perhaps added later?), dulcian [fagotto], strings and, of course, basso continuo. The F minor work uses strings, two dulcians, three trombones, and multiple organs and is a much more sombre and darker work.

Savall's recording was made in Salzburg Cathedral and takes advantage of four of the organs in there. The sound is beautiful and splendid and, indeed, moving. We are transported to a beautiful world without pain - a glimpse of Heaven, in fact. The opening Marcia Funebre gives one the opportunity to wind and brass of Le Concert des Nations in the Salsburg Cathedral space. What a sound! It is worth buying the disc for the March alone. The Requiem in Concerto which follows is a beautiful and radiant work - full of hope for the afterlife and great grace and beauty.

I hope Jordi Savall and his ensembles, La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Le Concert des Nations, get around to recording the deep, dark and sober Requiem in F minor some time soon.

This current disc is highly recommended by me.

Opulent Baroque Salzburg.......2007-02-27

Biber was an outstanding representative of polychoral 17-th century Austrian music. During his tenure as Kapellmeister at Salzburger cathedral he had written several settings of Mass, including two Requiems. This one, recorded by Jordi Savall at Cathedral where it has been originally performed back in 1687 is scored for brass, winds, strings and continuo. Besides the Mass the CD features also Battalia a 10 by Biber, which actually is a partita imitating various sounds of soldiers' songs, march and battle. This is simply outstanding recording which contributes much to Biber's fame as composer and violine virtuoso. I hope that Maestro Savall will record more of Biber's music in near future.

Superbe !.......2003-07-13

Another super interpretation by Savall ! What else is there to say ?

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