Requiem

"This BR Klassik release presents a fascinating programme ... On this live recording the unity, blend and balance of sound from the chorus and orchestra are exceptional ... The best-known movement, Pie Jesu, lives up to its reputation with an engaging interpretation of comfort and consolation ... It is hard to find fault with these performances. They serve Duruflé and Respighi admirably".

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"The French organist-composer Maurice Duruflé (1902-86) ... made between 1947 and 1961 three versions of this choral work for different forces ... Conductor Stephen Layton has chosen the second (1948), with organ only ... Harrison Cole, a recent Trinity organ scholar, deftly exploits the rich colours of the Parisian organ ... The accompanying Four Lenten Motets for unaccompanied voices by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) - first sung on Good Friday 1939 - are superbly sung. As in the Duruflé, dynamics are precisely observed by this expertly drilled choir".

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"Stephen Layton conducts with great flexibility, achieving an excellent flow. The choir sings marvellously ... I must say something about the organist because Harrison Cole is a crucial protagonist here. The Church of Saint-Eustache has an organ which, on the evidence of this recording ... is a marvellous instrument on which a wide variety of resources is available to the player ... It seemed to me that time after time Harrison Cole gets just the right colourings out of the organ ... This is a very fine account of the Duruflé Requiem in every respect".

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"Hans (Duruflé) produktion er meget lille, men udsøgt, og når han er bedst - og det er han næsten altid - er han enestående. Her får vi en håndfuld af hans værker i meget smuk udførelse. Hovedværket er Requiem, som er et barn af Faurés Requiem og lige så smukt ... Der er ikke et kedeligt eller overflødigt sekund på denne cd, som giver fred i sjælen, maner til meditation og eftertanke og fylder sjælen med skønhed og ro".

"With Carsten Seyer-Hansen in charge of the Requiem, Krogsøe's delight in textural precision is put at service of much more compelling interpretation, characterised by intuitive understatement and discretion. This is a very intimate and restrained Requiem ... About the best recording of this version of the Requiem on disc".

"The cathedral choir ... producing a strong, adult mixed-voice tone quality, well honed ... It's a pleasing, curvaceous sound ... however, the choir often sounds recessed and somewhat suppressed ... Krogsøe is a terrific advocate for Duruflé's small but perfectly formed output ... It's unlikely you'll be disappointed".

"The church's vast acoustic tends to blunt consonants somewhat but the overall effect is sublime ... Plaudits for soprano Sumei Bao-Smith ... A Gallic choral feast and strongly recommended".