Krzysztof Penderecki - Jutrznia / Utrenya (1989)

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Krzysztof Penderecki - Jutrznia / Utrenya (1989)

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Performed by the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir with various soloists, and composed in 1969-1970, Jutrznia I (Utrenya I: The Entombment of Christ) is a magnificent contemporary oratorio in five parts for two mixed choirs, five solo voices and symphony orchestra is a spine-tingling evocation of deep religious and otherworldly experience; the text is taken from Old Church Slavic writings concerning the Russian Orthodox liturgy of Great Saturday and Vespers of Good Friday. The elegant choral and orchestral material consists of tone clusters with major/minor chords embedded in them, wordless drones, chants in the rhythmically repeated chord style of the Russian Orthodox Church and ecstatic reaching for the highest notes in the soloists' range. Whispered speaking, percussive and brass punctuations, random rushing sounds, steely bow cymbal sustains, and more, take us into an inter-dimensional world of boundless interior and exterior. The second part of the diptych (of which Utrenya I: The Entombment of Christ is the first part), Jutrznia II (Utrenya II: The Resurrection of Christ), composed during 1970-71, is for five vocal soloists, boys choir, two mixed choirs and symphony orchestra. In contrast to Utrenya I, this work is one of unrestrained joy and wonder, the spirit of a more earthy world of two thousand years ago projected onto a contemporary landscape of cosmic dimensions. A remarkable and moving set of works.

Tracklist

Utrenya I: The Entombment of Christ
for 2 mixed choirs, solo voices (soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, 2 basses) and symphony orchestra

1. Tropar
2. Wielicznije
3. Irmos
4. Nie wydaj mienie Mati
5. Stichira

Delfina Ambroziak - soprano
Krystyna Szczepanska - mezzo soprano
Kazimierz Pustelak - tenor
Wlodzimierz Denysenko - bass
Boris Carmeli - basso profondo

Utrenya II: The Resurrection of Christ
for solo voices (soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, 2 basses), boys choir, 2 mixed choirs and symphony orchestra

6. Ewangelia
7. Stichira
8. Psalm with Paschal Trpar
9. Passover Canon, Songs: 1,3,6,9
10. Passover Canon, Song 8
11. Kontakion
12. Oikos
13. Passover Canon (excerpts from previous songs)

Stefania Woytowicz - soprano
Krystyna Szczepanska - mezzo soprano
Kazimierz Pustelak - tenor
Bernard Ladysz - bass
Peter Lagger - basso profondo

Pioneer Choir - Wladyslaw Skoraczewski, chorus master
Warsaw National Philharmonics Orchestra and Choir, Andrzej Markowski - conductor, Jozef Bok - chorus master

Polskie Nagrania-Muza: PNCD-018