Collegium Vocale Gent & Philippe Herreweghe - Stravinsky: Threni & Requiem Canticles (2016) [Hi-Res]

Threni (1957-58) is his longest, most ambitious and complex dodecaphonic score, and probably one of its summits. A work like the Requiem Canticles (1966) goes even further in this direction: the composer’s last masterpiece, it seems to summarise in itself the evolution of an entire lifetime, combining elements from the different stylistic periods that punctuated his career – whilst marking a highpoint in the spiritual quest that became increasingly important in Stravinsky’s life. In this major album, Philippe Herreweghe reveals with conviction his love for the composer’s music, and under his sure, inspired direction, the Collegium Vocale Gent and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic reveal their pure poetry. Music-loving friends, be curious!

“Requiem Canticles may be a wonderfully compressed… butThreni is an even greater masterpiece, which deserves a place among his finest achievements. Herreweghe’s superb performance leaves no doubt about that, and his singers and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic make light of the challenges in what is still a fearsomely difficult score to perform.” (The Guardian)