Maurice Duruflé
's
Requiem, Op. 9
, is among the most commonly performed choral works of the 20th century, but this one, which landed on classical best-seller lists in early 2024, is a standout.
Duruflé
's contrapuntal writing in this work is notably complex. The harmonies are chromatic, and lush adult voices may cause all the lines to mash together. With the youthful singers of the
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
, that doesn't happen; the counterpoint remains crystal clear, and the music takes on a swirling texture that gives it a bit of a mystical quality. The soloists match the choir's clean sound rather than grabbing the spotlight, and the whole performance is enhanced by the acoustics of the Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris; in many ways, the performance is a perfect mix of English and French elements. The consistent drive in the organ playing of
Harrison Cole
on the church's penetrating instrument is another draw. This was one of several works the
Choir of Trinity College
recorded in Paris with its departing director,
Stephen Layton
, and one can only hope that others are still in the pipeline; this is wondrous choral singing from one of the top collegiate vocal groups. Also included are a set of Lenten motets by
Poulenc
, recorded back at Cambridge; these are not quite on the same level, but the intense beauty of the
probably needed some kind of palate cleanser. A top-notch choral release from
Hyperion
. ~ James Manheim