Search - Henryk Gorecki, Alain Altinoglu, Sinfonia Varsovia :: Gorecki: Symphony No. 3, Canticum Graduum

Another Top Contender in the Sorrowful Songs Symphony of Gor

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most popular 'new works' in recent years that has benefited from multiple fine recordings is the Henryk Górecki Symphony No. 3, better known as 'The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs'. And while most will continue to support the award-winning recording with David Zinman conducting the London Sinfonietta and Dawn Upshaw as the radiant soloist, this new release on Hybrid SACD enhances the choices with a first-rate performance and wondrous sound.



Alain Altinoglu conducts the Sinfonia Varsovia with a pulsing, soulful support for the very fine soloist Ingrid Perruche. Though these artists are all new to this listener, the impact of the work is solid and in some ways feels more honest and probing than the Zinman/Upshaw recording. Or perhaps that is just the familiarity of the work that now allows comparisons when before it was the discovery of Górecki at his most poignant that pushed all else aside. Perruche can be heard in a different context in her performance of Handel's 'Agrippina' with the likes of Veronique Gens and Phillipe Jaroussky in the cast: this appears to be another rising star to watch.



The bonus work on this recording is a beautifully rendered Canticum Graduum, Op. 27 (the Symphony No. 3 is Op. 36) that for lovers of Górecki's music is reason enough to add this fine CD to the collection! Grady Harp, November 05"

Excellent new recording of Gorecki's No. 3

Amadeus 888 | London | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I spotted this SACD in the record store, I thought oh well another recording of Gorecki's symphony no. 3. I already have the Dawn Upshaw and Zofia Kilanowicz recordings, so why bother. But then again, it was a SACD bargain, so why not?



Well, I'm glad I did get it, because Ingrid Perruche is a revelation and the overall performances on this disc excellent.



I think it has now become my favourite Gorecki Symph. No. 3 recording. I'll keep an eye on this soprano, because both her voice and her performance are full of promises.



Highly recommended."

Beautiful, Haunting...

Christopher Bechtel | Virginia Beach, VA | 05/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think I have ever heard music quite like this. Honestly, it seems to transcend its own sound reaching right into the realm of pure emotion. The first movement builds like singular streams of water joining one another slowly one after the other eventually becoming an unrelenting torrent. Liquid is perhaps an apt descriptor for the tone and sound of this symphony, like a river, oceans or tears.



The pacing is a bit slower than the 1992 recording, particularly in the 3rd movement. On a good sound system, with multi-channel SACD playback, this recording wins out as the best yet. The strings are lush and deep. The soloist's voice naturally fills the space around you. In fact, everything about the mixing and mastering of this disc lends to a very natural, warm sound. There is no large hall reverb here, yet it is not a dry recording either; it just perfectly fills the space around you. Everything about the performance is excellent.



I highly recommend this."