Search - Morten Lauridsen, Stephen Layton, Britten Sinfonia :: Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna / Layton, Britten Sinfonia

Strong Evidence for the Additive Value of Hybrid SACD Record

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 01/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the aural world of capturing musical performances on CD continues to become more sophisticated, it is gratifying to know that the Hybrid SACD aspect of recording truly can be additive, especially in recordings of the quality of this Morton Lauridson choral masterpiece. It bears attention to modern technology.



Morton Lauridsen is a fine composer whose works for chorus and orchestra are among the best being composed today. Since the premiere of his now famous 'Lux aeterna', a repertoire staple with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Orchestra, this incredibly moving work has enjoyed frequent performances not only in the United States but with European ensembles as well.



This wondrous recording features Polyphony with the Britten Sinfonia under the baton of Stephen Layton. The title piece grows in stature with time and in this performance the myriad subtexts are more clearly defined. Lauridsen tends to write thick choral sounds and while these are organ-like in their beauty, Layton clarifies the more dense sections of the work and the result is illuminating. For the more massive, darker sound the Los Angeles Master Chorale under Paul Salamunovich still satisfies: it is nice to have the 'big' sound along side the 'chamber' sound.



Added bonuses on this recording are the six 'Madrigali', the 'Ave Maria', 'Ubi caritas et amor', and 'O magnum mysterium', each of which are given superlative performances. The recorded sound is crystal-clear without losing resonance. For those who hold the 'Lux aeterna' in high esteem this is a recording that should be along side the original. As for those to whom Lauridsen's name is unknown, this beautiful recording is a fine introduction to an important composer. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, Janury 06

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Excellent Modern Choral Music

Eric S. Kim | Southern California | 04/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It goes without saying that American composer Morten Lauridsen is one of the finest masters of choral music today. And this CD should very well prove it.



His "Lux Aeterna" is a marvel. He uses a somewhat Romantic style for the choir, while giving the orchestra (the fine Britten Sinfonia) very dissonant structures. Overall, this 25-minute piece makes me feel spiritual in many ways: I'm an Agnostic, and I love some good church music; it makes me feel warm and comfortable inside.



The other four pieces on this CD are entirely choral. Madrigali, Six "Fire Songs" on Italian Renaissance Poems reminds me of Rachmaninov's Vespers. I don't mean the intense sequences of the Vespers; I mean the purely lyrical sections that just breathes. Madrigali is one that's not to be missed.



Ave Maria & Ubi caritas et amor. Both are about six minutes long, but just because they're short and not epic-like doesn't mean that they should be underappreciated. These two pieces are a joy to listen to: they're almost cinematic when it comes to their overall ambient atmosphere.



Ah, the O Magnum Mysterium. I played this for Wind Ensemble during High School, and when I heard the original choral version, the first thing I thought was, "I can't wait to go to the music store!". Well, that's a bit overexaggerated, but you know what I mean. This piece is, to me, the most dogmatic of the short pieces on this CD. The slow, fluid flow of the music is very enchanting. When I listen to this, I imagine a falcon or an eagle flying above the clouds at dawn. I don't know why, but I guess I have a vivid imagination.



In short, Lauridsen's music should be a must-own. The CD itself is a bit more expensive than ordinary CD's, but for the purely angelic sounds of "Lux Aeterna" and "O Magnum "Mysterium", I don't think you'll mind the price."

Gut-wrenchingly beautiful

KLF-dc | Washington, DC | 11/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This splendid recording does justice to some of the most staggeringly beautiful music ever composed. I've been a serious chorister for 40 years, with some very fine choirs - and I humbly submit that angels singing in heaven would be proud to sound this good. The "O Magnum Mysterium" is especially stunning."