- Main performer: Eugen Jochum
- Time: 135:52
- Release Date: 2005
Review
Verdi's Requiem is not just a drama, but the universal drama, not just a tragedy, but the common tragedy. Its subject is death, not the pity and terror of death, just the terror of death, just the complete dread of dying and the absolute horror of death. It's quintessentially operatic in conception and essentially nineteenth century Italian in execution and expression, but the work itself is the howl of humanity overwhelmed with the bone-deep fear of death. It is, in a word, morbid, and any performance that doesn't scare listeners out of their wits plainly misses the point of the work.Although this performance by Eugen Jochum leading the Chor und Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in München in 1950 is anything but essentially nineteenth century Italian or quintessentially operatic in conception, execution, expression, or anything for that matter, it'll still scare listeners out of their wits. Jochum's interpretation may be Germanic in tone and intonation, but it is nevertheless suffused with the fear of death. Jochum drives his brave Munich forces against the dark, and their strength and dedication holds them together right through to the final, terrible Amen. The soloists -- soprano Maud Cunitz, mezzo-soprano Elisabeth Höngen, tenor Walther Ludwig, and bass Josef Greindl -- are all heroic in their heart-quickening defiance of their ultimate end. The coupling of Verdi's most serene Quattro Pezzi Sacri with Ferenc Fricsay leading the RIAS-Kammerchor and Sinfonieorchester eases the sting, but for the most part, this performance is just about unendurable, which, in this case, is just about perfect. Archipel's sound is hard, harsh, and honest. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
