Benjamin Britten – Benjamin Britten: War Requiem

On January 10, 1963, recording sessions for this world premiere recording of Britten’s ‘War Requiem’ were completed in London. In 2023, sixty years later, Decca has made new high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz transfers of the original quarter-inch stereo master tapes at British Grove Studios for the best possible sound quality. Conducted by the composer and featuring the three soloists (Galina Vishnevskaya, Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) for whom the work was written, this still remains for many the reference recording par excellence. The truly comprehensive companion book includes excerpts from John Culshaw’s autobiography, ‘Putting the Record Straight,’ recollections from three members of the original 1963 Decca recording team, technical notes, extensive essays on the ‘War Requiem’ and the recording sessions, and rare, never-before-seen photographs.

Disc 1
1. Requiem Aeternam (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
2. What Passing Bells for These Who Die As Cattle? (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
3. Dies Irae (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
4. Bugles Sang, Saddening the Evening Air (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
5. Liber Scriptus (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
6. Out There, We’ve Walked Quite Friendly Up to Death (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
7. Recordare Jesu Pie (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
8. Be Slowly Lifted Up (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
9. Dies Irae (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
10. Lacrimosa Dies Illa (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
11. Move Him Into the Sun (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
12. Domine Jesu Christe (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
13. So Abram Rose, and Clave the Wood (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
14. Sanctus (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
15. After the Blast of Lightning from the East (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
16. One Ever Hangs Where Shelled Roads Part (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
17. Libera Me, Domine (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
18. It Seemed That Out of Battle I Escaped (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
19. Let Us Sleep Now…In Paradisum (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
20. Requiem Aeternam – Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
21. Dies Irae – Rehearsal of the Opening Section (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
22. Dies Irae – Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter), Then Between John Culshaw and Galina Vishnev (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
23. Dies Irae – Rehearsal of End of Movement (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
24. Offertorium – Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
25. Sanctus – Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
26. Sanctus – Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter) (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
27. Agnus Dei – Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
28. Libera Me – Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and John Culshaw (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
29. Libera Me – Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
30. Libera Me – Rehearsal of Closing Page (Benjamin Britten) – Various Performers
31. Closing Remarks – Various Performers