Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

If you have seen Amadeus you know one version of how Mozart came to start writing this Requiem and failed to complete it. Keith Anderson's helpful booklet notes come closer to the truth but it is still an amazing story. Many more PhDs will be written on the whys and wherefores of Mozart's last days but the Requiem will remain one of the true masterpieces of western music, whoever wrote what. In this recording Mozart's pupil Franz Xaver Süssmayr gets his rightful credit. In addition we get "Inter Natos Mulierum (K 72)" and "Misericordias Domini (K 222)" to give us a wonderful 52 minutes. I searched under "Mozart requiem" at my favourite Internet music store and got more than 300 matches, either for complete versions or highlights. If you already have a Requiem in your collection you probably will not want this as well, unless you are a committed Mozartian. However this is certainly a good recording and Martin Snell's Bass is outstanding and at this bargain price you may find it a useful comparison disc if you already have a different recording. And if you have yet to buy a Requiem then you no longer have any excuse not to.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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