Durufle: Requiem – Musical Opinion

The main work is Durufle’s Requiem, in the version with organ accompaniment, which is extremely well played by Jeremy Filsell with Robert Cohen participating in the Pie jesu movement to moving effect. The singing, from this distinguished choir, is really fine, and the vocal soloists add their individual refinement most admirably.

The main work is partnered with Durufle’s Four Motets, music of equal quality and sung with admirable purity of style throughout. Jean-Jacques Grunenwald’s far less well-known choral music clearly on this showing, demands a wider audience than it has received hitherto and the nature of these performances by the Vasari Singers, under the gifted Jeremy Backhouse, will surely go a long way to achieve that aim.

The sound quality is first rate throughout and all-in-all this superb disc is very strongly recommended.

Robert Matthew-Walker
Musical Opinion