Barnes & Noble

Verdi's Requiem Mass is less an exercise in spiritual reflection than a vivid interpretation of the Latin text's rich theatrical possibilities, which might explain why it's often referred to as Verdi's greatest opera. Composed in 1873 in honor of the recently deceased Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni, Verdi's Requiem is certainly as enormous and dramatic as any of his major operas, and yet its spiritual qualities are equally intense. If modern performances have often played up its dramatic side at the expense of the spiritual, the late Robert Shaw's 1987 recording with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus finds an interpretive middle ground. Confirming that he ranks among the greatest choral conductors, Shaw brings all of the musical elements into sharp focus: Balance, tempos, dynamic contrasts, weight and orchestral color are finely tuned, and Verdi's massive climaxes are carefully sculpted. Rarely has the "Dies Irae" erupted with such hair-raising force and excitement. The quartet of singers -- all fresh-voiced young Americans -- are first-rate. Brian Wise

High Fidelity

This performance beats every other studio recording of the work hands down.