On January 10, 1963, recording sessions for this world premiere recording of Britten's 'War Requiem' were completed in London. In 2023, sixty years later, Decca has made new high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz transfers of the original quarter-inch stereo master tapes at British Grove Studios for the best possible sound quality. Conducted by the composer and featuring the three soloists (Galina Vishnevskaya, Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) for whom the work was written, this still remains for many the reference recording par excellence. The truly comprehensive companion book includes excerpts from John Culshaw's autobiography, 'Putting the Record Straight,' recollections from three members of the original 1963 Decca recording team, technical notes, extensive essays on the 'War Requiem' and the recording sessions, and rare, never-before-seen photographs.

Disc 1

Track name

Artist

1.Requiem Aeternam

Various Performers

2.What Passing Bells for These Who Die As Cattle?

Various Performers

3.Dies Irae

Various Performers

4.Bugles Sang, Saddening the Evening Air

Various Performers

5.Liber Scriptus

Various Performers

6.Out There, We've Walked Quite Friendly Up to Death

Various Performers

7.Recordare Jesu Pie

Various Performers

8.Be Slowly Lifted Up

Various Performers

9.Dies Irae

Various Performers

10.Lacrimosa Dies Illa

Various Performers

11.Move Him Into the Sun

Various Performers

12.Domine Jesu Christe

Various Performers

13.So Abram Rose, and Clave the Wood

Various Performers

14.Sanctus

Various Performers

15.After the Blast of Lightning from the East

Various Performers

16.One Ever Hangs Where Shelled Roads Part

Various Performers

17.Libera Me, Domine

Various Performers

18.It Seemed That Out of Battle I Escaped

Various Performers

19.Let Us Sleep Now...In Paradisum

Various Performers

Disc 2

Track name

Artist

1.Requiem Aeternam - Rehearsal

Various Performers

2.Dies Irae - Rehearsal of the Opening Section

Various Performers

3.Dies Irae - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter), Then Between John Culshaw and Galina Vishnev

Various Performers

4.Dies Irae - Rehearsal of End of Movement

Various Performers

5.Offertorium - Rehearsal

Various Performers

6.Sanctus - Rehearsal

Various Performers

7.Sanctus - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and Galina Vishnevskaya (Via Her Interpreter)

Various Performers

8.Agnus Dei - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten, Peter Pears and John Culshaw

Various Performers

9.Libera Me - Discussion in the Control Room Between Britten and John Culshaw

Various Performers

10.Libera Me - Rehearsal

Various Performers

11.Libera Me - Rehearsal of Closing Page

Various Performers

12.Closing Remarks

Various Performers

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