Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Requiem [82:35]
Margaret Price (soprano); Livia Budai (mezzo); Giuseppe Giacomini (tenor);
Robert Lloyd (bass)
London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir/Jesús López-Cobos
rec. live, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, 24 April 1983
tracklist at end of review
LPO0048 [43:10 + 37:25]
This BBC recording comes from a concert recorded live at the Royal Festival
Hall in 1983, during Jesús López-Cobos’ tenure as Principal Guest Conductor
of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It is by no means negligible as an account,
but there are literally scores of recordings of this master-work and many
are more recommendable than this despite its merits.
There is no doubting the energy, commitment and professionalism of the London
Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra; both are superb. López-Cobos has never been
the most innovative or adventurous of conductors and he directs a competent
and unexceptional performance here which belongs in the reverential, devotional
camp; turning to really inspirational conductors like Bernstein or Toscanini
will reveal what is missing if you prefer a more urgent, Dante-esque scenario.
This performance is around five minutes longer than more dramatic accounts,
although there is plenty of weight in the supplicatory sections and the pace
lifts nicely in the “Quam olim Abrahae” – always a key moment for me.
Interest for most listeners will centre upon the team of soloists here assembled.
While admiring so much of what Margaret Price does I cannot help feeling that
hers is not an ideal Verdi voice: too slim and fluty to fill out those soaring
lines amply and somewhat taxed by the expose B flats which she gamely nails
rather than floats. Even so she is one of a minority of sopranos who succeed
in sounding genuinely terrified in the “Libera me”. She is none too steady
in the “Lacrimosa”.
The mezzo, Livia Budai, is plain ordinary if compared with great exponents
of the rôle like Christa Ludwig or Fiorenza Cossotto; she is heavy on the
vibrato and rather lumpen in expression, but blends surprisingly well with
Price in their joint numbers. For some the sticking point will be a glaring
mistake at the beginning of the “Quid sum miser”, when she comes in a bar
early and has to mark time by holding on to “sum”. For repeated listening,
this could be very irksome.
Giacomini is blessed with a great voice and lets us know it: his is a stentorian
attack on the part - both he and Lloyd pin back our ears in their entries
in the “Kyrie” - but he rarely attempt any mezza-voce or nuance in the manner
of Di Stefano or Domingo. He scoops a bit and goes flat in the “Hostias” but
is a real Italian tenor of the kind all too rare today.
I have a weakness for Robert Lloyd’s sonorous, slightly nasal bass; he brings
great solidity, gravitas and dignity to his utterances even if he is no Pinza
or Siepi.
As a live recording in the Festival Hall, this comes off well, despite the
outburst of hacking between the end of the “Requiem aeternam” and “Lux eterna”
which is disconcerting; the conductor cuts the coughers short by launching
quickly into the last movement before they can get into their stride, but
it’s unfortunate.
Given the plethora of excellent recordings available, I cannot claim that
this one is the answer to anyone’s prayers. It has merits and will appeal
to followers of the singers featured but Price’s error, the spread onto two
discs, the live sound and some indifferent singing might be reasons enough
to look for more celebrated studio performances such as those by Karajan,
Solti, Reiner or Serafin. If it’s a live performance you want, Bernstein or
Toscanini offer more thrills.
Ralph Moore
Has merit but there might be reasons to look for a more celebrated studio
performance
Tracklist
CD1 [43:10]
1. Requiem Aeternam [9:48]
2-10. Dies Irae [35:22]
CD2 [37:25]
1-2. Offertorium [9:25]
3. Sanctus [2:36]
4. Agnus Dei [5:09]
5. Lux Aeterna [6:03]
6-9. Libera Me [14:12]