The Penderecki 8th
Every summer, I try to spend some time catching up on listening to musical works I've always been curious to hear but somehow never found the time. Last week, I pulled a Naxos label Penderecki 8th symphony off the shelf at the Library of the Performing Arts. I've had the best intentions to expand my Penderecki repertoire ever since being bowled over by the US premiere of the composer's SEVEN GATES OF JERUSALEM in 1998 - one of the great experiences of my concert-going years. Read about that concert by clicking here; a link will appear above.
The Naxos recording of the 8th symphony features the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Antoni Wit. The symphony feels like a monumental song cycle in twelve movements. Three excellent singers - soprano Michaela Kaune, mezzo-soprano Agnieszka Rehlis, and baritone Wojick Drabowicz - are backed by the impressive chorus. The music abounds in melody, the orchestration is alive with rhythmic variety...and is evocatively played.
An added attraction of this symphony it that the composer turned for texts to illustrious writers like Eichendorff, Rilke, Goethe, and Hermann Hesse.
You can hear the Naxos recording on YouTube; unfortunately, I cannot link to it from here.