Music TheoryPrint

Antonín Dvořák

Requiem (Dvořák)

Antonín Dvořák's Requiem in B minor, Op. 89, B. 165, is a funeral Mass scored for soloists, choir and orchestra. It was composed in 1890 and performed for the first time on 9 October 1891, in

Part II#

The approximate duration of the work is 95 minutes (1 hour and 35 minutes).

Orchestration#

The work is scored for: Voices: :soprano solo :alto solo :tenor solo :bass solo :SATB choir Woodwinds: :piccolo :2 flutes :2 oboes :cor anglais :2 clarinets :bass clarinet :2 bassoons :contrabassoon Brass: :4 horns :4 trumpets :3 trombones (alto, tenor and bass) :tuba organ Percussion: :timpani :tam-tam :campane (not in the original score) Strings: :harp (Offertorium and Hostias only) :violins I, II :violas :cellos :double basses

Selected recordings#

  • Antonín Dvořák: Rekviem – Czech Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Karel Ančerl, chorus master Markéta Kühnová; soloists: Maria Stader – soprano, Sieglinde Wagner – alt, Ernst Haefliger – tenor, Kim Borg – bass. Supraphon, 1959, re-edition on 2 CD 1991 (Ančerl Gold Edition no.13). This recording was awarded the “Grand Prix du disque de l´Académie Charles Cros”.
  • Dvořák: Requiem for soloists, chorus and orchestra, Op. 89 – Czech Philharmonic, Kühn’s mixed choir, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch; soloists: Gabriela Beňačková, Brigitte Fassbaender, Thomas Moser, Jan-Hendrik Rootering.
  • Dvořák: Requiem b-moll, Op. 89 – London Symphony Orchestra, conductor István Kertesz, Ambrosian Singers choir, soloists: Pilar Lorengar, , Róbert Ilosfalvy, Tom Krause; published by Decca.
  • Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, New Jersey Symphony, conductor Zdeněk Mácal, Westminster Choir, soloists: Oksana Krovytska (soprano), Wendy Hoffman (mezzo-soprano), John Aler (tenor), Gustav Beláček (bass). 1999 Delos.
  • Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, Capella Weilburgensis, conductor Doris Hagel, Kantorei der Schlosskirche Weilburg, soloists: Mechthild Bach (soprano), Stefanie Irányi (mezzo-soprano), Markus Schäfer (tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass). 2006 Profil – Edition Günter Hänssler.
  • Dvořák, Requiem, Symphony No. 8 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductor Mariss Jansons, Wiener Singverein, soloists: Krassimira Stoyanova (soprano), Mihoko Fujimura (mezzo-soprano), Klaus Florian Vogt (tenor), Thomas Quasthoff (bass). 2010 RCO Live.
  • Dvořák: Requiem, Op. 89, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Antoni Wit, soloists: (soprano), Ewa Wolak (alto), (tenor), Janusz Monarcha (bass). 2014 Naxos Records.
  • Antonín Dvořák: Requiem – Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Collegium Vocale Gent, conductor Philippe Herreweghe; soloists: Ilse Eerens (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano), Maximilian Schmitt (tenor), Nathan Berg (bass). 2015 PHI, Outhere.
  • Dvořák: Requiem, Biblical Songs, Te Deum – Czech Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Choir, conductor Jakub Hrůša, conductor Jiří Bělohlávek, soloists: Ailyn Pérez (soprano), (mezzo-soprano), Michael Spyres (tenor), Svatopluk Sem (baritone). 2020 Decca Records.
    • Dvořák’s “Requiem”. Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Carlos Kalmar, conductor.
Composer
Antonín Dvořák