Benjamin Britten's War Requiem is a significant choral work that premiered in 1962. It is a deeply moving composition, blending the traditional Latin Requiem Mass with the poetry of Wilfred Owen, a soldier who died in World War I. This juxtaposition of sacred text and war poetry creates a powerful commentary on the horrors of war and the hope for peace.
This recording, recorded in 1963, is often regarded as the definitive interpretation of the work. The soloists for this recording were Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Peter Pears (tenor), and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), all of whom brought their unique voices to the performance.
The recording is particularly revered for its authenticity, as Britten's personal involvement as the composer and conductor ensured that the performance closely adhered to his artistic vision. The LSO's performance is characterized by its precision, depth of expression, and the emotional intensity that the War Requiem demands.
If you are looking to experience Britten's War Requiem, this recording is highly recommended for its historical significance and profound artistic quality an exceptional sound quality

This album is the equivalent of a double album

Artist(s): Words By [Poems] – Wilfred Owen
Conductor – Benjamin Britten
Orchestra – London Symphony Orchestra
Ensemble – Melos Ensemble
Soprano Vocals – Galina Vishnevskaya
Tenor Vocals – Peter Pears
Baritone Vocals – Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Choir – Highgate School Choir
The Bach Choir
Chorus – London Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Chorus Master – David Willcocks
Chorus Master - Edward Chapman
Organ – Simon Preston
Recording Info: Recording location: Kingsway Hall, London, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 & 10 January 1963.   Engineer - Kenneth Wilkinson     
Producer - John Culshaw
Sourced from a 2-track tape 
Analog: Transferred using a modified Studer 810 tape deck feeding a Merrill Tape Preamp    Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock    Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components.    All components grounded to Shunyata ALTAIRA Hubs

Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings

Copyright © & ℗ High Definition Tape Transfers 2024, including all compilation, transfer, remastering, and restoration aspects

Play Sample Tracks