Requiem (Dvořák)

Antonín Dvořák's Requiem in B♭ minor, Op. 89, B. 165, is a funeral Mass scored for soloists, choir and orchestra. It was composed in 1890 and performed for the first time on 9 October 1891, in Birmingham, England, with the composer conducting.[1]

Structure

Part I

1. Introitus: Requiem aeternam. Poco lento
2. Graduale: Requiem aeternam. Andante
3. Sequentia: Dies irae. Allegro impetuoso
4. Tuba mirum. Moderato
5. Quid sum miser. Lento
6. Recordare, Jesu pie. Andante
7. Confutatis maledictis. Moderato maestoso
8. Lacrimosa. L'istesso tempo

Part II

9. Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe. Andante con moto
10. Hostias. Andante
11. Sanctus. Andante maestoso
12. Pie Jesu. Poco adagio
13. Agnus Dei. Lento

The approximate duration of the work is 95 minutes.[2]

Orchestration

The work is scored for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists; SATB choir; and an orchestra of piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones (two tenor and one bass), tuba, timpani, tam-tam, campane (not in the original score), organ, harp (Offertorium & Hostias only), and strings.[2]

Selected recordings

• Antonín Dvořák: Rekviem – Czech Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Karel Ančerl, chorus master Markéta Kühnová; soloists: Maria Stader – soprano, Sieglinde Wagner – alt, Ernst Haefliger – tenor, Kim Borg – bass. Supraphon, 1959, re-edition on 2 CD 1991 (Ančerl Gold Edition no.13). This recording was awarded the "Grand Prix du disque de l´Académie Charles Cros".
• Dvořák: Requiem for soloists, chorus and orchestra, Op. 89 – Czech Philharmonic, Kühn's mixed choir, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch; soloists: Gabriela Beňačková, Brigitte Fassbaender, Thomas Moser, Jan-Hendrik Rootering.
• Dvořák: Requiem b-moll, Op. 89 – London Symphony Orchestra, conductor István Kertesz, Ambrosian Singers choir, soloists: Pilar Lorengar, Erzsébet Komlóssy, Róbert Ilosfalvy, Tom Krause; published by Decca.
• Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conductor Zdeněk Mácal, Westminster Choir, soloists: Oksana Krovytska (soprano), Wendy Hoffman (mezzo-soprano), John Aler (tenor), Gustav Beláček (bass). 1999 Delos.
• Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, Capella Weilburgensis, conductor Doris Hagel, Kantorei der Schlosskirche Weilburg, soloists: Mechthild Bach (soprano), Stefanie Irányi (mezzo-soprano), Markus Schäfer (tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass). 2006 Profil – Edition Günter Hänssler.
• Dvořák, Requiem, Symphony No. 8' Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductor Mariss Jansons, Wiener Singverein, soloists: Krassimira Stoyanova (soprano), Mihoko Fujimura (mezzo-soprano), Klaus Florian Vogt (tenor), Thomas Quasthoff (bass). 2010 RCO Live.
• Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Antoni Wit, soloists: Christiane Libor (soprano), Ewa Wolak (alto), Daniel Kirch (tenor), Janusz Monarcha (bass). 2014 Naxos Records.
• Antonín Dvořák: Requiem – Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Collegium Vocale Gent, conductor Philippe Herreweghe; soloists: Ilse Eerens (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano), Maximilian Schmitt (tenor), Nathan Berg (bass). 2015 PHI, Outhere.
• Dvořák: Requiem, Biblical Songs, Te Deum – Czech Philharminic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, conductor Jakub Hrůša, conductor Jiří Bělohlávek, soloists: Ailyn Pérez (soprano), Christianne Stotijn (mezzo-soprano), Michael Spyres (tenor), Svatopluk Sem (baritone). 2020 Decca Records.

Notes

1. Composition details, antonin-dvorak.cz
2. Score, summary

References

• Dvořák, Antonín (2001). Requiem Op. 89, score. Prague: Editio Bärenreiter. ISMN M-2601-0090-9. H 3213.

External links

• Requiem (Dvořák): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Dvořák's "Requiem". Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Carlos Kalmar, conductor.