Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps – Daniele Gatti

   in Classical Music (Feb, 2018)
Donizetti’s Requiem of 1835 is well worthy of acquaintance. Heard here performed on period instruments in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Warsaw as part of a ‘Chopin and his Europe’ festival, Donizetti’s piece was written in response to Bellini’s death; and of course Bellini’s cantabile influence is hugely evident in Chopin’s output. While sometimes pointing at Rossini, sometimes Verdi, Donizetti’s Requiem breathes its own rather concentrated atmosphere. There are five soloists (two basses), and a slight bias towards the male voice; the soloists here blend together well, with B?ezina a strong tenor who is capable of a beautifully sweet tone.

Luks directs a most affectionate performance, his orchestra ever …