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John Tavener's Requiem, given its premiere in 2008 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, is not one of the composer's more coherent works. It draws its text not only from the traditional Latin requiem, but from Hindu, Muslim, and Christian scriptures and writings, a diversity that's not uncommon in contemporary religious works, but Tavener fails to use them in making a convincing musical statement. Part of the problem lies in his general approach, in which a free-floating, vague mysticism prevails; the score is full of directions like "with deepest sympathy" and "awesome, apocalyptic," without much of a larger sense of musical purpose. Specific problems arise from Tavener's eccentric orchestration. He seems unwilling to use the orchestra to produce conventionally resonant sonorities and the result sounds more strange and inept than visionary. He frequently has the solo cello double the solo soprano and tenor lines (both of which lie extremely high) and the combination tends to sound sour and strident. Tavener comes closest to the transcendence for which he is aiming in the final movement, in which multiple layers of musical gestures serenely overlap, building and receding, like waves breaking on the shore. He is altogether more successful in the two instrumental works Mahashakti for violin, tam-tam, and strings and Eternal Memory for cello and strings. Mahashakti, in particular, is a work of radiant tranquility, like the Vaughan Williams of The Lark Ascending meeting the Hovhaness of Mysterious Mountain, and it's warmly beguiling, a piece that deserves broad exposure. Violinist Ruth Palmer and cellist Josephine Knight play with self-effacing generosity and make the music really shine. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has a chance to show its mettle in its disciplined and nuanced playing in these pieces, led by Vasily Petrenko. The sound is clean in the instrumental works and is also, in fact, good in the Requiem, but that piece is constructed in such a way that the sonic impression it leaves is sometimes muddled and cluttered.
© TiVo
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Requiem (John Tavener)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Elin Manahan Thomas, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Elin Manahan Thomas, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Elin Manahan Thomas, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Josephine Knight, Cello, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Elin Manahan Thomas, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Josephine Knight, Cello, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Josephine Knight, Cello, FeaturedArtist - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus, Choir, FeaturedArtist - Andrew Kennedy, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Rebecca Bean, Producer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Elin Manahan Thomas, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Mahãshakti (John Tavener)
Stephen Johns, Producer - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Stephen Johns, Producer - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist - Ruth Palmer, Violin, FeaturedArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Eternal Memory (John Tavener)
Stephen Johns, Producer - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - John Tavener, Composer - Josephine Knight, Cello, FeaturedArtist - Vasily Petrenko, Conductor, MainArtist
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2009 Parlophone Records Limited
Albumbeschreibung
John Tavener's Requiem, given its premiere in 2008 by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, is not one of the composer's more coherent works. It draws its text not only from the traditional Latin requiem, but from Hindu, Muslim, and Christian scriptures and writings, a diversity that's not uncommon in contemporary religious works, but Tavener fails to use them in making a convincing musical statement. Part of the problem lies in his general approach, in which a free-floating, vague mysticism prevails; the score is full of directions like "with deepest sympathy" and "awesome, apocalyptic," without much of a larger sense of musical purpose. Specific problems arise from Tavener's eccentric orchestration. He seems unwilling to use the orchestra to produce conventionally resonant sonorities and the result sounds more strange and inept than visionary. He frequently has the solo cello double the solo soprano and tenor lines (both of which lie extremely high) and the combination tends to sound sour and strident. Tavener comes closest to the transcendence for which he is aiming in the final movement, in which multiple layers of musical gestures serenely overlap, building and receding, like waves breaking on the shore. He is altogether more successful in the two instrumental works Mahashakti for violin, tam-tam, and strings and Eternal Memory for cello and strings. Mahashakti, in particular, is a work of radiant tranquility, like the Vaughan Williams of The Lark Ascending meeting the Hovhaness of Mysterious Mountain, and it's warmly beguiling, a piece that deserves broad exposure. Violinist Ruth Palmer and cellist Josephine Knight play with self-effacing generosity and make the music really shine. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has a chance to show its mettle in its disciplined and nuanced playing in these pieces, led by Vasily Petrenko. The sound is clean in the instrumental works and is also, in fact, good in the Requiem, but that piece is constructed in such a way that the sonic impression it leaves is sometimes muddled and cluttered.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:59
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Vasily Petrenko, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
- Composer: John Tavener
- Label: Warner Classics
- Genre: Klassiek
© 2009 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.
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