Requiem / 4 Motets Sur Des Thèmes Grégoriens

The 1986 Erato release of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem and the Four Motets serves as a definitive interpretation of the composer’s masterwork. Duruflé, a staunch perfectionist who often revised his compositions, created the Requiem in 1947, blending the structural influence of Fauré with the modal fluidity of Gregorian chant. This recording, featuring the Orchestre Colonne and Ensemble Vocal Audite Nova de Paris under the baton of Michel Corboz, captures the late-career resonance of a work that is widely considered the pinnacle of 20th-century French sacred music.

Michel Corboz, a conductor celebrated for his meticulous approach to choral balance and stylistic purity, sought to emphasize the contemplative, internal nature of Duruflé’s score rather than its more dramatic operatic possibilities. The choice of soloists, including the renowned Teresa Berganza and José van Dam, brought an gravitas to the recording that aligned with Erato’s reputation for high-fidelity classical production. Upon its 1986 release, this album was noted by critics for its clarity of texture and the seamless integration of the vocal lines with the organ-inflected orchestral accompaniment.