Anton Bruckner
Latin Motets
Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava, conductor · Kristine Adamaite, organ
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Track listing
16 tracks · 54:11Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Felix Mendelssohn
- 1 Psalm 100, Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt (WoO 28; MWV B 45) 4:37
- Die Deutsche Liturgie, MWV 57 (Three pieces) 7:55
- 2 Kyrie (WoO 24) 1:16
- 3 Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe (Gloria; WoO 26) 4:51
- 4 Heilig (Sanctus; WoO 27) 1:48
- Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79 12:57
- 5 Im Advent (Lasset uns frohlocken, MWV B 54) 1:30
- 6 Am Weinachten (Frohlocket, ihr Völker auf Erden, MWV B 42) 1:31
- 7 Am Neujahrstage (Herr Gott, du bist unsre Zuflucht, MWV B 44) 3:54
- 8 In der Passionszeit (Herr, gedenke nicht unsrer Übeltaten, MWV B 50) 2:10
- 9 Am Karfreitage (Um unsrer Sünden willen, MWV B 52) 2:01
- 10 Am Himmelfahrtstage (Erhaben, o Herr, über alles Lob, MWV B 55) 1:51
- Drei Psalmen, Op. 78 (Carus Verlag 1997 Edition) 25:29
- 11 Psalm 2, Warum toben die Heiden (MWV B 41) 6:28
- 12 Gloria Patri (MWV B 41) 1:41
- 13 Psalm 43, Richte mich, Gott und führe meine Sache (MWV B 46) 4:27
- 14 Ehre sei dem Vater (MWV B 48) 3:19
- 15 Psalm 22, Mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen (MWV B 51) 9:34
- 16 Zum Abendsegen (WoO 12; MWV B 27) 3:13
About this recording
This new album by the award-winning Latvian Radio Choir conducted by Sigvards Klava – recently hailed by the New York Times as ‘astonishing’, ‘superlative’ by the BBC Music Magazine, and ‘perhaps the finest chorus singing today’ by NPR – is focused on the sacred choral works by one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847).
Although the young Felix Mendelssohn was not brought up in any faith until the age of seven, when he was baptised into the Reform Christian Church in Berlin, Christian traditions were featured large in his creative make-up. Writing sacred choral works was, after all, a very natural choice to Mendelssohn, the man who did so much to champion the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and who had also re-discovered his St Matthew Passion. Already in 1821 – when he was aged just 12 – he embarked on a series of Psalm settings, and the composer’s choral writing would soon outstrip these early, immature efforts on the largest scale with St Paul (1836), Elijah (1846), and Die erste Walpurgisnacht (1831–43). Particularly in the final decade of his life Mendelssohn returned to writing unaccompanied choral works, and it is from the 1840s that most of the works featured in this collection were composed, when the composer was already ailing with what would prove his final, fatal illness. The biggest works in the album are the Sechs Sprüche (1843–46), with each anthem themed to a specific feast day of the year, and the Three Psalms (1843–45). This recording of the Psalms also includes the world première recording of Ehre sei dem Vater published by Carus Verlag in 1997.
The Latvian Radio Choir (LRC) ranks among the top professional chamber choirs in Europe and its refined taste for musical material, fineness of expression and vocal of unbelievably immense compass have charted it as a noted brand on the world map. The repertoire of LRC ranges from the Renaissance music to the most sophisticated scores by modern composers; and it could be described as a sound laboratory – the singers explore their skills by turning to the mysteries of traditional singing, as well as to the art of quartertone and overtone singing and other sound production techniques. The choir has established a new understanding of the possibilities of a human voice; one could also say that the choir is the creator of a new choral paradigm: every singer is a distinct individual with his or her own vocal signature and roles in performances. The choir’s album of John Cage choral works won a Gramophone award in 2023.
Sigvards Kļava is one of the most outstanding Latvian conductors, also a professor of conducting and producer, music director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. As a result of Sigvards Klava’s steady efforts, the Latvian Radio Choir has become an internationally recognized, vocally distinctive collective, where each singer possesses a creative individuality. Under Sigvards’ guidance, the choir has recorded a number of choral works by little known or completely forgotten composers of the past, as well as formed a friendly collaboration with a number of notable Latvian composers. Sigvards Klava is a professor at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. Klava is a multiple winner of the Latvian Great Music Award.
Features
English notes and sung text enclosed
World première recording of Ehre sei dem Vater, MWV B 48
The artists
Latvian Radio Choir
The Latvian Radio Choir is a full-time professional chamber choir founded in 1940. Chief Conductor Sigvards Kļava and Conductor Kaspars Putniņš have led the choir since 1992. The ensemble's repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present day, with a primary focus on exploring the capabilities of the human voice and seeking to extend its limits. A major part of the repertoire is dedicated to contemporary music and composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The choir is also open to creative experiments and often participates in dramatic performances and multimedia projects. The ensemble regularly commissions works from leading Latvian composers such as Pēteris Vasks and Ēriks Ešenvalds.
Sigvards Klava
Sigvards Kļava began working with the Latvian Radio Choir in 1987 and was appointed its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in 1992. As one of Latvia's most prolific choral conductors, Sigvards Kļava has collaborated with every leading choir and orchestra in the country, performing the great works of the standard repertoire in addition to conducting most premieres of new choral works by Latvian composers. He has recorded numerous albums with the Latvian Radio Choir. Sigvards Kļava has also been Chief Conductor at a number of Latvian and Nordic song festivals. He is a co-founder of the Latvian New Music Festival ARENA and serves as a member of its artistic board. He teaches young conductors at the Choral Department of the Latvian Academy of Music and the Choral College of the Riga Lutheran Cathedral. Sigvards Kļava appears as a guest conductor with leading European choirs. He has received the Latvian Great Music Award and the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Award.
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Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava, conductor · Dace Klava, piano · Aldis Liepins, piano
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