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.
Track Listing:
1. War Requiem, op. 66, Requiem Aeternam (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
2. War Requiem, op. 66, What Passing Bells for These Who Die As Cattle? (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
3. War Requiem, op. 66, Dies Irae (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
4. War Requiem, op. 66, Bugles Sang, Saddening the Evening Air (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
5. War Requiem, op. 66, Liber Scriptus (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
6. War Requiem, op. 66, Out There, We've Walked Quite Friendly Up to Death (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
7. War Requiem, op. 66, Recordare Jesu Pie (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
8. War Requiem, op. 66, Be Slowly Lifted Up (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
9. War Requiem, op. 66, Dies Irae (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
10. War Requiem, op. 66, Lacrimosa Dies Illa (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
11. War Requiem, op. 66, Move Him Into the Sun (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
12. War Requiem, op. 66, Domine Jesu Christe (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
13. War Requiem, op. 66, So Abram Rose, and Clave the Wood (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
14. War Requiem, op. 66, Sanctus (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
15. War Requiem, op. 66, After the Blast of Lightning from the East (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
16. War Requiem, op. 66, One Ever Hangs Where Shelled Roads Part (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
17. War Requiem, op. 66, Libera Me, Domine (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
18. War Requiem, op. 66, It Seemed That Out of Battle I Escaped (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
19. War Requiem, op. 66, Let Us Sleep Now...In Paradisum (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
20. War Requiem, op. 66, Requiem Aeternam - Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
21. War Requiem, op. 66, Dies Irae - Rehearsal of the Opening Section (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
22. War Requiem, op. 66, 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. War Requiem, op. 66, Dies Irae - Rehearsal of End of Movement (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
24. War Requiem, op. 66, Offertorium - Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
25. War Requiem, op. 66, Sanctus - Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
26. War Requiem, op. 66, Sanctus - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter) (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
27. War Requiem, op. 66, Agnus Dei - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
28. War Requiem, op. 66, Libera Me - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and John Culshaw (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
29. War Requiem, op. 66, Libera Me - Rehearsal (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
30. War Requiem, op. 66, Libera Me - Rehearsal of Closing Page (Benjamin Britten) - Various Performers
31. Closing Remarks - Various Performers
