Description:

Seiji Ozawa's first Fauré Requiem. Ozawa's deep knowledge of French music, acquired under the tutelage of his teacher Charles Minsch, and his experience in organizing and singing in his own choral ensemble while at Toho, have earned him an absolute reputation for choral works by French composers such as Berlioz and Poulenc. Fauré's "Requiem" has long been one of his favorites, and with the silky, elegant sound of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the beautifully trained harmonies of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, it is a unique work that evokes not fear of death, but rather a sweet longing for death and the world afterwards. The charm of the work is conveyed in every detail. The two soloists, Barbara Bonney and Håkan Hagegaard, are also a pleasure to listen to. The margins include a song with piano accompaniment. (C)RS