In his 2007 EMI recording of Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, Simon Rattle aims for a somewhat streamlined and fleeter interpretation than is usually heard: with moderate tempos, he trims approximately five to eight minutes off the conventional timing, though he maintains the deeply reverent feeling that is expected and preserves the structure of this expansive seven-movement work in his steady, proportional pacing. The recordings were made between October 26 and 29, 2006, so the composite performance on this CD is remarkable for its consistency, smoothness, and balance, a success that is not always found on Rattle's other live discs. The playing by the Berlin Philharmonic and the singing of the Berlin Radio Choir are close to flawless, and the moving solos by baritone Thomas Quasthoff in "Herr, lehre doch mich" and soprano Dorothea Röschmann in "Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit" are splendid in their technical control and sublime in their expressive depth. The reproduction on this album is slightly unfocused and a bit distant, possibly due to the microphone placement, but the intensity of the singing fully comes across, and the orchestra's timbres and textures are quite audible, if lacking in vibrancy and presence.