Rutter: Requiem (CD Review - The Yorkshire Post, 1997)

John Rutter's written introduction to this disc includes a curiously petulant defence of his craft. He complains that some critics malign his music for its popularity. Hardly. Its populism, maybe. Its magpie tendencies, certainly. Howells, Fauré, Duruflé, Canteloube, Sibelius and Lloyd Webber flit across a typically well-crafted score which has many moments of eloquence and a few of mere sentiment.
It receives a thoroughly musical performance from this responsive chamber ensemble. The rest of the disc comprises smaller pieces, such as the touching A Prayer of St Patrick, most of which are more successful.