Ron Chaplin reports:

> Britten: War Requiem
> Robert Shafer, conductor; Joan McFarland, choir director; Betty
> Scott, choir director (Richard Clement, tenor; Christine Goerke,
> soprano; Richard Stilwell, baritone; Maryland Boy Cho.; Shenandoah
> Conservatory Cho.; The Washington Cho.; The Washington Orch.)

Holy namedropping, Batman!  I went to school with Richard Stilwell (or *a*
Richard Stilwell).  In fact, I sang with him in the college choir.

> Schmidt: Book Of The Seven Seals
> Franz Welser-Most, conductor; Michael Glaser, chorus master (Stig
> Andersen, tenor; Rene Pape, bass; Various Artists; Bavarian Radio
> Cho.; Bavarian Radio Sym. Orch.) [EMI Classics]

That gets my vote.  Too bad I'm not a member of the Academy.  An
astonishing performance of an astonishing work.

Steve Schwartz