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From the arresting opening eruption, reminiscent of the famous ‘O fortuna’ from Carl Orff’s “Carmina burana”, it is instantly clear that this is a passionate performance of a powerful work. Through its ensuing myriad contrasts, the peerless skill and unwavering dedication of Polyphony, the Britten Sinfonia, soloists and conductor Stephen Layton result in a compelling performance of Pawel...
There has never been a wealth of satisfying recordings of Handel’s "Chandos Anthems" available, so admirers of the works should be grateful for Hyperion’s release three of the eleven anthems, especially because they are exceptionally well performed and recorded. Skilled and seasoned conductor Stephen Layton leads the Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, the Academy of Ancient Music, and a quartet of...
*****
The recent slew of Handel releases in honour of the 250th anniversary of his death has reinforced the composer’s versatility. Clever and entrepreneurial, Handel came to London primarily to make his name in opera, but that did not stop him from seeking out rich patrons like the Duke of Chandos and fulfilling their musical needs. In this case, it was providing music for the duke’s private...
This devotional piece, which makes a noble addition to the music of Passiontide, could be seen as a reflection on Pawel Lukaszewski's native Poland and Catholicism's triumph over communism. Whatever its genesis, there is no denying the beauty of the choral writing and the sincerity of faith which lies behind it. Built around the Stations of the Cross, jewel-like recurring refrains, exquisitely...
Memorable and impressive moments - but no big sweep to these stations
Hyperion's earlier disc of Lukaszewski's music (A/08) left me feeling that the Polish composer's idiom was short-breathed, although highly effective at conjuring up specific atmospheric moments. This second disc, whose theme is the Stations of the Cross (15 rather than 14 in Lukaszewski's version), does not radically alter my...
This is a near-hour-long oratorio for three soloists, chorus and orchestra, and a narrator speaking in Latin, by the contemporary Polish composer Pawel Lukaszewski, who is now 40. Stephen Layton has previously recorded a selection of his shorter sacred Latin motets (reviewed in September 2008), but Via Crucis is infinitely more ambitious, a through-composed setting of biblical texts all related...