Dive into the profound and resonant world of Charles Villiers Stanford's Requiem, Op. 63, a masterful choral work that stands as a testament to the composer's immense skill and musical legacy. Recorded in association with a live performance at Birmingham's Symphony Hall in 2022, this album captures the grandeur and intimacy of Stanford's late-Victorian masterpiece, marking 125 years since its premiere.
Conducted by the esteemed Martyn Brabbins, this performance features the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a stellar cast of vocalists, including Carolyn Sampson, James Way, and Marta Fontanals-Simmons. The Requiem, Op. 63, is a sweeping composition that spans over an hour and fourteen minutes, divided into thirty meticulously crafted tracks. Each movement reveals Stanford's deep understanding of choral writing and his ability to evoke a range of human experiences and divine contemplations.
Stanford, an Anglo-Irish composer, music teacher, and conductor of the late Romantic era, brings his unique voice to this Requiem, blending elements of traditional liturgical music with innovative harmonies and expressive depth. The album, released on May 5, 2023, by Hyperion Records, is a celebration of Stanford's enduring contributions to the choral repertoire. Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast of classical music or a newcomer to the genre, this recording offers a rich and rewarding listening experience.
Requiem, Op. 63: Ia. Introit. Requiem aeternam –Charles Villiers Stanford, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, University of Birmingham Voices, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Ib. Te decet hymnus –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Ic. Requiem aeternamCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IIa. Kyrie I –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IIb. Kyrie IICharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IIc. Kyrie IIICharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IIIa. Gradual. Requiem aeternam –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IIIb. In memoria aeternaCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVa. Sequence. Dies irae –Charles Villiers Stanford, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVb. Tuba mirum –Charles Villiers Stanford, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVc. Liber scriptus profereturCharles Villiers Stanford, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVd. Quid sum miser?Charles Villiers Stanford, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, University of Birmingham Voices, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVe. Quem patronum rogaturus? –Charles Villiers Stanford, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, University of Birmingham Voices, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVf. Rex tremendae maiestatis –Charles Villiers Stanford, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Carolyn Sampson, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVg. Recordare, Jesu pieCharles Villiers Stanford, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVh. Quaerens me –Charles Villiers Stanford, Ross Ramgobin, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, University of Birmingham Voices, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVi. Iuste iudex ultionis –Charles Villiers Stanford, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVj. Inter oves locum praestaCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVk. Confutatis maledictis –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVl. Lacrimosa dies illa –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: IVm. Pie Jesu DomineCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Va. Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Vb. Quam olim Abrahae promisistiCharles Villiers Stanford, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Vc. Hostias et preces tibi –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: Vd. Transire ad vitam … Quam olim Abrahae promisistiCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, University of Birmingham Voices, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Ross Ramgobin, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: VIa. Sanctus –Charles Villiers Stanford, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: VIb. Benedictus –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, James Way, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: VIc. OsannaCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: VIIa. Agnus Dei –Charles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Requiem, Op. 63: VIIb. Lux aeternaCharles Villiers Stanford, Carolyn Sampson, James Way, Ross Ramgobin, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, University of Birmingham Voices, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
Charles Villiers Stanford, an eminent figure of the late Romantic era, was an Anglo-Irish composer, conductor, and music educator whose influence resonates through the generations. Born into a musically inclined family in Dublin, Stanford's journey took him from the halls of the University of Cambridge to the prestigious music conservatories of Leipzig and Berlin. His contributions to the musical world are vast, notably his role in elevating the Cambridge University Musical Society to international acclaim. Stanford's compositions, particularly his choral works and requiems, are celebrated for their depth and emotional resonance, earning him the title of Ireland's most prolific composer. His legacy endures, inspiring countless musicians and composers, including the likes of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. Stanford's Anglican cathedral music remains a staple in the repertoire, a testament to his enduring impact on the world of music.
Vinylscout
Charles Villiers Stanford
