Track Listing

1. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement I Promodial White Light
2. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement II (Kyrie eleison)
3. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement III Advaita Vedanta "The Still Point" (The Absolute and no other)
4. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement IV Kali's Dance
5. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement V Advaita Vedanta "The Still Point" (The Absolute and no other)
6. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement VI Movement VI Interlude
7. John Tavener: Requiem (World Premiere Performance) - Movement VII Movement VII
8. Mahashakti for solo violin, tam-tam and strings - Shakti
9. Mahashakti for solo violin, tam-tam and strings - Mahashakti
10. Eternal Memory for cello and strings

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33192 in Music
• Released on: 2009-05-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 63 minutes

CD Description
EMI Classics recorded John Tavener's Requiem live at its world premiere performance in Liverpool's atmospheric Metropolitan Cathedral on 28th February 2008. The Requiem was commissioned by The Liverpool Culture Company Ltd. as part of the 2008 European Capital of Culture programme for performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir under their principal conductor Vasily Petrenko. The solo soprano, tenor and cello parts were performed by Elin Manahan Thomas, Andrew Kennedy and Josephine Knight respectively. Requiem is complemented by studio recordings of two additional compositions by John Tavener: Eternal Memory (1991) and Mahāshakti (2003).

Customer Reviews

Beautiful
It will come as no surprise to those who know John Tavener's music that the words Tavener and Requiem go together like Laurel and Hardy. Tavener's hauntingly beautiful music was made for the form and this doesn't disappoint.
But there are surprises. Tavener's devout faith is no secret, but this is a requiem which draws on a number of the world's great religions and it feels very inclusive. And, for a requiem, it can be positively spiky and grand. It was recorded live in the wonderful Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, and the Cathedral's acoustic feels like part of the piece.
The CD also includes Mahashakti and Eternal Memory, two pieces which are entirely sympathetic the the requiem and gives a playing time of 63 minutes.
A requiem for our times and very highly recommended.