Andrew Lloyd Webber - Requiem / Domingo, Brightman, ECO, Maazel [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Before Andrew Lloyd Webber's seemingly endless run of Broadway shows, when he was known primarily for Jesus Christ Superstar, he managed to write this dramatic, tuneful, occasionally powerful religious work. Although Lloyd Webber takes some liberties with the text and organization of the traditional Requiem mass, the result is a unified and finely crafted composition. There are exciting moments in the "Dies irae" and in the "Lacrymosa", where voices and orchestra are most effectively used to convey the desperate yet hopeful feeling of the text. This work isn't performed much these days in its entirety, but, as in many of Lloyd Webber's musicals, it produced a "hit" tune--the "Pie Jesu"--whose popularity alone could have kept the composer living comfortably for the rest of his life. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Requiem: Requiem & Kyrie
Requiem: Dies Irae ... Rex Tremendae
Requiem: Recordare
Requiem: Ingemisco ... Lacrymosa
Requiem: Offertorium
Requiem: Hosanna
Requiem: Pie Jesu
Requiem: Lux Aeterna & Libera Me

Amazon.com essential recording

Before Andrew Lloyd Webber's seemingly endless run of Broadway shows, when he was known primarily for Jesus Christ Superstar, he managed to write this dramatic, tuneful, occasionally powerful religious work. Although Lloyd Webber takes some liberties with the text and organization of the traditional Requiem mass, the result is a unified and finely crafted composition. There are exciting moments in the "Dies irae" and in the "Lacrymosa", where voices and orchestra are most effectively used to convey the desperate yet hopeful feeling of the text. This work isn't performed much these days in its entirety, but, as in many of Lloyd Webber's musicals, it produced a "hit" tune--the "Pie Jesu"--whose popularity alone could have kept the composer living comfortably for the rest of his life. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Sir Andrew should stick to musicals.......2007-03-14

What's not to like about Andrew Lloyd Webber? Well, his attempt at liturgical composition. This work blends Old with New NOT very harmoniously. Much of the score rings of tunes reminiscent from his other works such as CATS, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera. His obviously intentional cacophony in places causes one to wonder if perhaps he had unresolved altar boy issues! Even if one wants to argue that musically, the piece is impressive, the volume levels of this recording make it difficult to listen to without having to constantly adjust the knob.

One Great Song.......2007-03-13

This piece sounds like a musical and proves Sir Webber should stick to that medium. I bought this disk for one and only one cut; Pia Jesu. This is as beautiful a piece of music as I've heard and the credit goes as much to the boy tenor as to Webber.

Not quite good enough...........2007-02-14

In reading these reviews, the smart people will always say things like "But don't compare this work to Verdi or Mozart". Which is the musical equivelent of "Those guys were good...but this Lloyd Webber guy...". This is the feeling I get listening to this CD. And before I get typecast as a "classical" snob (even though Verdi was romantic), I will point to the Alfred Schnittke Requiem for proof that effective music CAN be written in a wholy modern style. But this steamer just doesn't do it. Ray of light, though was Lorin Maazel, who does the best he can with a work that just doesn't give you anything after the 200th time you listen to it, unlike the above mentioned works. I hope he wasn't in charge of the solists, because they seem to be stuck on one idea throughout (Domingo, sing really really loud throughout without any emotional sub-text! Honestly, why is this guy so famous?). Really folks, there are better Requiems out there, in every respect possible. Buy those. Make Robert Shaw's family a bit richer. Seroiusly, it's like Webber cut and pasted the music at random, without caring, but not in a good way.

Only game in town.......2006-11-10

Thank goodness this is a top-notch performance and recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber Requiem since the only one available.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S MOST SOLEMN PIECE OF MUSIC.......2006-09-17

When Andrew Lloyd Webber's father William, a classical composer in his own right, died in 1982, his by that time famous son decided to commemorate his death with a piece of newly composed music. But it was not the musical that ALW had in mind for this intimate occasion; he rather returned to his own classical roots he acquired while frequenting the Westminster music school, where his father was an organist.

The result of this effort is captured on this CD in form of a requiem mass. This precise form, immortalized by the likes of Verdi and Mozart in the past, seems an awkward and a rather risky choice for a composer who became famous by revitalizing the concept and the perception of the modern musical theatre. And yet, the whole piece managed not only to be embraced by the public, but also it established itself as an important contribution to the genre.

All of the mass parts as recorded on this CD manage to invoke the much needed feeling this type of work requires. The opening `Requiem and Kyrie' number, with its gentle tune, a moving chorus accompaniment and the mixture of the capital voices leaves a deep and haunting feeling with the listener. We can oppose such quiet and dark moments with the fiery strength of `Dies irae', whose music captures the dramatic pace of the written word. `Hosanna', on the other hand, is something you would expect out of this composer-a big, lush melody, with strong choral back up and crescendos. One must also make reference to `Pie Jesu', probably the most touching passage in this score, which became the best known part from this whole piece. Its gentle melody works better as a part of the whole score. Nowadays it reached a new generation of listeners when it was recorded by a young soprano Charlotte Church.

One of the sources this requiem draws its power from is its cast. It was conceived for a high soprano, a treble and a tenor. The soloists who sing these voices are of top class. We have Sarah Brightman (who was then married to Lloyd Webber), Placido Domingo (who reached international stardom a couple of years later as one of the three tenors) and a young boy Paul Miles-Kinsgston. Their voices are perfect for the score and make an excellent bland. Lorin Maazel, a world famous maestro, conducted both this recording and the subsequent world premiere performance in February 1985 at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in New York.

Both the album and the single `Pie Jesu' reached the UK top 10 and the critics honored this piece by awarding Andrew Lloyd Webber a Grammy Award for the best contemporary classical piece.

The other important point this score makes is the fact how gifted a composer ALW really is, easily moving between the world of the classical and the musical theatre music, something his detractors have never seem to grasp or appreciate. This CD is therefore both the proof of a talent as it is a successful representative of the genre.

The fans of this style should have no trouble in liking it and it should also make a nice addition to the collection of ALW's work. Also, it may just serve as a much needed comfort during the time of mourning. When my 93-year old great grandmother Monika died this January, this music was a perfect choice to listen to while thinking about the loss of a loved person and commemorating the event in a most personal way. I would like to dedicate this review to the memory of her.

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