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A superb and revealing performance of one of Schnittke’s most approachable works
The rather anodyne name Concerto for Mixed Chorus, intended to convey a conscious link to similarly named works by Bortnyansky and other composers, actually conceals a work with tremendous depths of faith and feeling, and a masterpiece of choral writing building firmly on the Russian sacred tradition. The text comes...
The death of Alfred Schnittke in 1998 robbed the world of one of its most distinctive symphonists. But as this fine disc of his lesser-known choral works makes clear, it also deprived Russia of a composer deeply aware of his country's vocal traditions, and a writer able to reflect that tradition through a uniquely personal prism.
By far the most powerful expression of that ability is the mighty...
Polyphony met the Age of Enlightenment; they said “Handel’s oratorio ?”, the others said “Stephen Layton conducting “, the consequence was Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, James Gilchrist and David Wilson-Johnson; and the world said “wow!”
'Lovingly rendered by Polyphony under Stephen Layton, this should be a disc of choice not only for this year but as well as for the years to come'
Superb performances which are beautifully recorded
Those of you who have ever sung in a choir, particularly around Christmas time, will be familiar with John Rutter's huge role in shaping the musical content of carol services up and down the country. He has arranged just about every carol known to man and his original Christmas compositions, as heard here on this extraordinary disc, epitomise both the joy and intense emotion that the Nine...