Probably the two best-known and often recorded Requiems of the 19th century are Berlioz's and Verdi's. Which one do you prefer?
For me, it's the Berlioz. While I enjoy both works, Berlioz's is the more engaging. I can sit through all of the Berlioz whereas I usually have to take the Verdi in about two doses.
While the Verdi is harmonically more daring, I think the Berlioz is more melodic and thus falls a little easier on the ears.
This is not a "which is better," merely "which do you prefer?"
Am I the only Verdi lover? Even though I like Berlioz a lot, his requiem sounds a bit weird to my ears, too much homophonic to my taste, too much ostinati, incredibly, Verdi is a more academical composer. I just love his power, he would become a stylist only later with Otello, but until then, he was a source of larger than life dramatic power, but it worked so well here, the Tuba Mirum is like a punch in the stomach, but I like it...
There is a famous recording of Toscanini shouting with the orchestra: Più forte, più forte!, it's so intense, I don't change it for nothing.
Berlioz's Requiem is a splendid piece of music. Verdi did a good job with his Requiem as well and it is, indeed, powerful, but it doesn't make me come away thinking about it. It's not thought-provoking like all the other requiems I've heard.
I just like Berlioz better as composer. He was much more original. His orchestrations are a sonic marvel. You can hear a few measures of Berlioz and know it is his music being played. That kind of distinction is truly remarkable.
I voted Verdi. I have yet to warm to Berlioz - even the Symphonie fantastique. So many people appreciate him, I know I'm just missing something. It'll click someday.
My favorite requiem is actually neither of these, but that's for another topic.
How about Duruflé's? That's a nice, meditative piece. And I would easily take either Fauré's or Brahms' over either Berlioz or Verdi.
But, those aren't in the poll, so I voted for Berlioz. I like Verdi's operas quite a bit, but I've always though that his Requiem retains the grandness (some might say bombast) of his operas, but loses the dramatic intensity.
I just noticed that my vote makes it 6-6! We need a tiebreaker!
I haven't heard all of either the Berlioz or Verdi. I've only heard bits, so won't vote...
But I will comment that I think that the Verdi seems very interesting, as he wrote it in an operatic style. I doubt that many composers had done this type of thing with liturgical music, although I do know that Gounod had some very operatic sacred works, like the St Cecilia Mass. And I also like Puccini's Messa di gloria, pretty operatic, but this is getting off track...
I wonder what would happen to the voting spread [and the voting count for that matter!] if we were to ignore the Dies Irae movements in each. Perhaps nothing at all would change, but I still wonder.
If we only take conventional (Latin) requiems into account, I'd pick Faure as the clear winner, ahead of Verdi. Then ex aequo Berlioz, Dvorak and Saint Saens.
If we include non-conventional requiems, it is a tie between Brahms and Faure, two of the greatest masterpieces of all time (imo).
Berlioz's Requiem towers above any other Requiems followed by Brahms, Mozart, Dvorak, Saint Saens, Verdi, Faure and Karl Jenkins.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Classical Music Forum
2.6M posts
40.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to classical music for musicians and other enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about composers, compositions, arrangements, collections, recordings, techniques, instruments, styles, reviews, classifieds, and more!