Aziz Shokhakimov conducts Brahms's A German Requiem — With Pretty Yende and Ludovic Tézier
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Festival de Saint-Denis
Cast
Pretty Yende — Soprano
Ludovic Tézier — Baritone
Chœur de l'Orchestre de Paris
Richard Wilberforce — Chorus director
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Aziz Shokhakimov — Conductor
Program notes
Join the Orchestre de Paris Chorus and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside star vocalists Pretty Yende and Ludovic Tézier, in the Saint-Denis Festival performance of Brahms’s German Requiem, one of the greatest Romantic choral works! A traditional requiem is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic mass of the dead, but Brahms’s composition takes a unique approach: rather than using sacred Latin texts, the composer crafted his libretto from Martin Luther’s German translation of the bible. While a requiem normally focuses on praying for the souls of the dead, his work is primarily concerned with providing spiritual solace to the living. The seven movements of Brahms's German Requiem are filled with radiant light and hope: a beautiful dedication to the memory of his mother.
For over fifty years, the Saint-Denis Festival has showcased the very best of classical music, boasting a vibrant programme of concerts and recitals with internationally renowned musicians and orchestras. This year is no exception, with the festival offering masterpieces of the symphonic and choral repertoire in the magnificent setting of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
Photo © Stéphane Rolland
Pretty Yende and Ludovic Tézier appear courtesy of Sony Classics.
