Campra - Requiem (Messe des Morts) - Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir

Release Date: August 20, 2007 Label: Erato Number of discs: 1 Composer: Andre Campra Performer: John Eliot Gardiner cd info/ buy

Review:

The recording and performance does this exquisite Requiem perfect justice.The sensitive baton of the esteemed John Eliot Gardiner conjures heavenly playing from the English Baroque Soloists, and there is some superb work done by both choir and soloists.I honestly can't recommend this CD too highly to you. It's qualities are as crystal clear to me as it's possible to seem. Not only does it have the most entrancing and beguiling "Introit" this side of Faure (forgive the missing accent -- I'll fathom this keyboard some day !),but amongst a plethora of other beauties it boasts an "Agnus Dei" of such sweet and sublime grace that's rarely to be encountered in the entire repertoire. The setting itself bears most similarity to it's illustrious descendant by Campra's fellow countryman Gabriel Faure. It boasts the same melting, blissful, beguiling harmonies and textures.

flac, covers