Thanks to the dedication, skill, and expressive power of the vocal soloists, choir, orchestra, and conductor, this profound and beautiful performance of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, Op. 48, is one of the most moving interpretations on disc, and sure to garner critical praise for its polish and eloquence. Baritone Harry Peeters is especially moving in his solo in the Libera Me, and soprano
Christiane Oelze's Pie Jesu is as seraphic and serene as one might wish. The scrupulously blended voices of the
Netherlands Chamber Choir and the sonorous Limburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by
Ed Spanjaard, merge seamlessly in this gentle, legato performance. Yet it should also be noted that
Spanjaard's pacing, while steady, is slightly faster than usual, which keeps the Requiem fluid and light, and prevents even the most foreboding passages from sliding into gloominess. Also contributing to the excellence of this hybrid SACD is PentaTone's remarkably deep multichannel reproduction, and the resonance of the venue adds an ideal radiance to the performers' warm sound. Listeners may pick and choose among the short works that fill out the rest of this album -- some, such as the overplayed Pavane and the bombastic Les Djinns, are easy to skip -- but the sublime Requiem should not be missed.