Berlioz / Dowd / Tagliavini / Kynaston / Davis Requiem Op 5 / Te Deum Op 22 CD

Colin Davis's Berlioz cycle for Philips was a highly acclaimed, if not ambitious achievement forty years ago and many of his performances- including the Requiem and Te Deum here- remain the reference to which all others have since aspired. His soloists are all remarkably good (especially tenor Franco Tagliavini in the Te Deum) and the Wandsworth School Boys Choir simply sing their hearts out. Davis tends to downplay the usual theatrics most conductors pepper their readings with though his restraint pays off famously with one of the most highly dramatic, emotionally charged interpretations ever recorded. With Philip's 96 kHz 24-BIT remastered transfers as well, this glorious production sounds better than ever.

1. Requiem - Kyrie 2. Dies Irae - Tuba Mirum 3. Quid Sum Miser 4. Rex Tremendae 5. Quaerens Me 6. Lacrymosa 7. Domine Jesu Christe 8. Hostias 9. Requiem - Sanctus 10. Agnus Dei - Requiem 11. Te Deum - Te Deum Laudamus 12. Te Deum - Tibi Omnes 13. Te Deum - Dignare 14. Te Deum - Christe, Rex Gloriae 15. Te Deum - Te Ergo Quaesumus 16. Te Deum - Judex Crederis