Soprano: Helen Donath
Mezzo-Soprano: Yvonne Minton
Tenor: Ryland Davies
Bass-Baritone: Stafford Dean

Choir: John Alldis Choir
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis

Date: September, 1967
Venue: London

Label: Philips
Cat No.: 438 800-2
Released: 1993

This is a bright, alert account but in no wise deficient in majesty. I find that Davis is especially adept in embracing the extremes of tempi and mood in this work; the flow of the pulse in lyrical movements such as the Recordare and the Lacrimosa is very seductive but his attack in the Dies Irae is electric. The BBC SO woodwind are grainy and pleasingly prominent. The John Alldis choir is once again a great asset, as it is for Barenboim five years later (see below) and the team of soloists is admirable. The youthful Colin Davis had a gift for investing his performances with a special drive and glow, and in terms of both sound and delivery this remains one of the most compelling recordings despite its age. Gerd Nienstedt’s bass is lean and resonant, devoid of wobble and the under-rated Ryland Davies’ plaintive Welsh tenor timbre is ideal for this music. The rich, flickering, mezzo of Yvonne Minton is ideally paired with Helen Donath’s crystalline soprano; there are no weaknesses in this quartet. This is in many ways as fine a version as any.
—Ralph Moore in musicwebinternational.com