Fauré: Requiem review – a fine account of the original 1889 score

Those of us brought up on the definitive 1967 David Willcocks/King’s recording of Fauré’s Requiem may hesitate at the news that this famous choir has revisited the piece, but have no qualms – this is a really interesting recording. In their latest piece of scholarly exploration, the choir presents Marc Rigaudière’s reconstruction of the first complete 1889 liturgical performance. It’s sparer than the more familiar expanded edition of 1900, with a darker orchestration lacking violins and woodwind, though there is a fine violin solo in the Sanctus, beautifully played by Ken Aiso. Most surprising is the concise Offertorium, presented purely as a baritone solo – a gift for the creamy tone of King’s alumnus Gerald Finley. And Tom Pickard’s Pie Jesu is pure gold.