Britten War Requiem Rostropovich Dies Irae opening Terfel 

The phrase 'shock and awe' could equally describe Bryn Terfel's magnificent performance here. WHAT A VOICE. Nice to see the late Richard Hickox conducting as well as the equally late and great, Rostropovich.

I always thought it was a cruel irony that the beginning of the Dies Irae sounds like a battle march to prepare for war, but the text is about the impending day of wrath and judgement... Death and destruction.

Wonderful. I'm currently researching and writing a paper of Britten's War Requiem. Well done.

Benjamin Britten. Dies Irae from War Requiem. 1962.

I'm pretty sure it is. Rostropovich conducted the full orchestra and chorus, and Hickox conducted the chamber orchestra and male solists it seems.

Powerful... love the beginning odd time, 7/4

Brahms . . . pfft. This is on the same level as Verdi! Fantastic performance.

@kamanetzki I apologise. You're quite right. I hadn't got to the end of the clip. It is Hickox.

@Herkersdorfer1 You're right. It's Hickox.

Funny you should say that. Britten used a lot of musical motives and ideas that were nearly identical to Verdi's in his settings of the Latin text.

@redsox2213 that's not ZZTop, that's charles darwin!

probably the most complicated work ever

where can i purchase this concert?

And how many altos? Five. One to try to do it and four to complain it is too high.

I haven't found a recording without even a slight error... The brass parts are incredibly exposed. Although, at the beginning, I feel like the men of the choir is really eager to go at a slightly faster tempo than the orchestra. The diction is really crisp, though!

Ofcourse it is Rostropovich conducting the performance.

Herkersdorfer1, you need a new pair of glasses, my friend. That is indeed Rostropovich conducting the main orchestra, with Richard Hickox conducting the Chamber Orch.

Мне эту вещь придётся продерижировать на экзамене.

That's right. This guy is not Rostropovich!!!

When you've personally played it flawlessly, post a recording for all of us. Otherwise shut up. You're opinion means nothing to true musicians.

@tasteism And you have bad taste. :)