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Mozart: Requiem [1991]

Starring: Georg Solti, Arleen Augér, Cecilia Bartoli, Vinson Cole, René Pape
Director: Humphrey Burton
Format: AC-3 Classical Closed-captioned Colour Dolby DTS Surround Sound DVD-Video PAL
Released: 10 May 2004
RRP: £19.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

A balancing opinion - By: , 06 May 2005
This has to be viewed in a little context. The original is a TV production, recorded live on the 5th December 1991 - the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death. Being a TV production from 1991 the picture is a little 'foggy' in comparison with a modern production. This however is of little importance with what is essentiallly an historic document with both conductor Sir Georg Solti & soprano Arleen Auger both no longer with us(tragicallly early in the case of Auger).

As for the sound, I must part company with the other reviewer - for I find it to be superb in every respect - the ambience of the venue captured to wonderful effect - whether on the PCM Stereo or DTS 5.1 Surround soundtracks (believe me it is there). What is not there is a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack - so if you don't have DTS you'll be limited to stereo.

That stereo soundtrack, however, is essentiallly identical to the Decca CD of the event - & where the TV picture may have aged somewhat, Decca's sound most certainly has not. The DTS is nice, bringing out the ambience further still - yet retaining the clarity & body of the sound.

As to the performance itself - the achievement is very high - Arleen Auger is ethereallly beautiful in the soprano part, nicely counterpointing the vibrant urgency of Cecilia Bartoli in the alto part. Vinson Cole is the tenor, a pleasing voice with a suitably beseeching tone. The bass Rene Pape is excellent - on the lighter side of bass rather than lugubrious. The chorus & orchestra are predictably excellent under the experienced hand of Sir Georg Solti. This is one of my favourite recordings which I would highly recommend.

A Lack lustre Requiem - By: ap shift, 28 Jan 2005
If you want to see a performance of the Mozart Requiem in the context of a full service of the catholic mass and/or you are a big fan of "Cheeky" Bartoli then this may please you.

We were disappointed. Technicallly the disc is very poor by present standards. Although the production is dated 1990 the picture quality is very poor. It may have been converted from the original technical standards.

The sound is also poor. Very flat & lacking any clarity. The discs claims 5.1 but I could only find pcm stereo.

My wife is a trained singer & although a Bartoli fan she thought the whole thing lacked any excitement or sense of drama.
You can opt to skip the religous bits but that didn't leave anything impressive anyway.Oh dear!

DVD's of operas & classical music in general seem to be a mixed bag.