Catalogue

Summary:

Franz Xaver Süssmayr’s completion of Mozart’s Requiem is well known, but how many know that Süssmayr wrote a Requiem of his own? In fact he was one of the first composers to pen a formal Requiem in German. The coupling of the elder’s masterpiece and his disciple’s rarity is unique. These works could have no better advocate than “America’s premiere college choir”, that of St. Olaf University in Minnesota. Under the direction of their distinguished conductor Dr. Anton Armstrong, the St. Olaf Choir is joined by a strong line-up of soloists and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for an authoritative account of the Süssmayr, whilst Andreas Delfs (making his second appearance on Avie following an acclaimed Hansel & Gretel with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra – AV 0050) conducts a magisterial version of the Mozart. The Hybrid SACD accentuates all the beauty and depth of these commanding choral performances.

Tracklist:

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791)
Requiem in D minor K.626
(completed by Franz Xavier Süssmayr)

Introitus
1. Requiem aeternam (5:00)
2. Kyrie (2:35)
Sequenz
3. Dies Irae (1:47)
4. Tuba mirum (3:37)
5. Rex tremendae (2:08)
6. Recordare (5:46)
7. Confutatis (2:31)
8. Lacrimosa (3:07)
Offertorium
9. Domine Jesu Christe (3:45)
10. Hostias (3:46)
11. Sanctus (1:24)
12. Benedictus (5:34)
13. Agnus Dei (3:06)
Communio
14. Lux aeterna (6:02)

Maria Jette, soprano | Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano
James Taylor, tenor | Eric Owens, bass
St. Olaf Choir |Anton Armstrong, director
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra | Andreas Delfs, conductor

FRANZ XAVIER SÜSSMAYR (1766–1803)
Requiem

15. Praeludium (1:42)
Zum Eingang
16. Komm, gib die Ruh der Ewigkeit (1:48)
Zur Sequenz I
17. Am Tag Des Zorns (1:35)
Zum Offertorium
18. O Menschenvater voll der Huld! (3:50)
Zur Sequenz II
19. O Jesu, denk, dass du das Leben (1:48)
Zum Sanctus u. Benedictus
20. Sonne, Mond und Sterne (2:16)
Zum Agnus u. Kommun
21. Gottes Lamm!
Postludium (4:56)

St Olaf Choir and Orchestra | Anton Armstrong, conductor

Total Duration: 68:11

Mozart Requiem recorded live at Ordway Hall, St. Paul, Minnesota, 7–8 November 2003
Sussmayr Requiem recorded at St. Andrew’s Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, 26 – 27 May 2004
Producer: Malcolm Bruno
Balance engineer, editor: John Schert
Mastering: Adrian Hunter, Classic Sound, London