SYMPHONY 3/SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS/VEHADI/180 GR GATEFOLD SLEEVE

Description

Górecki composed this symphony in 1976. The work premiered on April 4, 1977, at the International Festival of Royan. Each movement is based on a different text, sung by a soprano, evoking the relationship between a mother and her child, particularly through religious laments or inscriptions found in Nazi prisons. This work, with its apparent simplicity and emotional depth, has marked the history of 20th-century music. Initially written for a solo soprano, the three movements were carefully reworked and rearranged to suit the lower register of Lisa Gerrard, creating a supernatural and completely unique interpretation. "When conductor Yorden Kamdzhalov suggested the daunting yet intriguing challenge of exploring Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, I nearly fainted with surprise. Not only was the work generally beyond my reach, but the libretto was written in Polish. How could I resist Yorden's innocent faith, which at the time seemed impossible? We relentlessly delved deeper into Górecki's ever-deepening abyss of inner despair, a poignant and humbling break from hope, where only the long and winding chords of the strings and the sweet sanctification of the woodwinds confidently guide us toward a beautifully painful acceptance of our fate." - Lisa Gerrard The symphony was recorded in Sofia at the Bulgarian National Radio studios. The album also includes a beautiful live recording of "Vehadi," a sacred song by Beinsa Douno (Petar Dunov).