Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
A German Requiem
Edith Mathis (soprano)
Andreas Schmidt (baritone)
Berlin Philharmonic Chorus
Berlin Radio Symphony/Antal Doráti
rec. live, 15 November 1986, Grosser Sendesaal der SFB, Berlin
Antal Doráti Society ADL349 [78]
This issue is decidedly a disappointment, especially given the conductor’s reputation. The choir is fine, enunciating clearly and feelingly, producing round, homogeneous tone whereby the four lines are properly balanced and audible, but the eighty-year-old Antal Doráti applies very sedate speeds – particularly injuriously so in the sluggardly “Denn alles Fleisch” second movement – the live sound is somewhat mushy and blaring and neither of the two soloists – both justly famed in their day – seems entirely apt or at home in their parts. There are times when the music-making sounds less grand and meditative, and more half asleep, and the listener will feel the urge to kick-start the whole enterprise. Muffled, muddy percussion does little to enliven it and if “So seid nun geduldig” is pleasantly lyrical and consoling even at what seems like half speed, “Aber des Herrn Wort” is a damp squib rather than the sunburst it should be and by that stage I have lost patience.
Andreas Schmidt is in light, youthful voice but lacks the gravitas and richness of tone singers like José van Dam or Samuel Ramey bring to their accounts. He is better for Giulini in that slightly later recording of the Requiem. I have long been a great admirer of the recently late Edith Mathis but I do not feel this role is ideal for her voice; she is not as pure and steady as sopranos such as Margaret Price and Gundula Janowitz; the natural vibrancy in Mathis’ tone too often threatens to disturbs the line and legato and the requisite serenity escapes her. The final phrases are distinctly shaky rather than achieving the poise she is presumably aiming for.
It is not that I require a speedier, lighter, more “period” manner; in fact, my favourite versions of this much-maligned work are by Karajan and Previn and traditional, “Old School” but this live recording under Doráti is simply too turgid to engage my interest.
Ralph Moore
Availability: send email to Doráti Society
Previous review: William Hedley
