No Kyrie, no Catholicism, no clerical Latin – Johannes Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem is a hymn to humanity. Instead of threats and the Last Judgement, it focuses on comfort, tenderness and hope. Ensemble Pygmalion, conducted by Raphaël Pichon, has re-recorded it together with soprano Sabine Devieilhe and baritone Stéphane Degout.

The music is like a balm and full of tenderness, says conductor Pichon. And the gentleness of Brahms' composition cannot be denied. Added to this are the flexible tempos and the frequent use of rubato, in which the accompaniment stays in time while the melody sometimes rushes ahead and sometimes lags behind. This, it is said, makes the composition more human.

The gentleness of the music also benefits from the fact that the recording was made at the Philharmonie de Paris on historical instruments, which lack the sharpness of newer instruments.

Pichon and the orchestra and choir of the Pygmalion ensemble open the chorus with delightful delicacy and calm. This continues consistently throughout the seven movements and their more than 65 minutes of playing time.

What is charming here – especially for native German speakers – is the correct pronunciation of the text. The sentence may seem petty, but anyone familiar with recordings with, for example, English accents and corresponding inaccuracies in pronunciation knows how quickly the sound of the language can distract from the sound of the musical performance and repeatedly detract from the listening experience.

And this recording offers enjoyment on many levels. In addition to the excellent musical and emotional interpretation, the violins, played with a light touch, are captured as reliably and naturally as the voices of the choir singers. The placement on stage is rather compact, emphasising the unity of the ensemble.

The dynamic subtleties of the conducting are also faithfully reproduced in the 96 kHz Studio Master recording, addressing the listener with the entire emotional spectrum from anxiety to loyalty to delighted jubilation.

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, recorded with Sabine Devieilhe, Stéphane Degout, the Pygmalion ensemble and choir, and Raphaël Pichon, is a fine treat and highly recommended. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Sabine Devieilhe, soprano
Stéphane Degout, baritone
Chor und Orchester des Ensemble Pygmalion
Raphaël Pichon, conductor

Photo: Molina Visuals/Josep-Molina