Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kudos to Helmuth Rilling and his ongoing success with the Oregon Bach Festival. This CD is the World Premiere performance and recording (1998) of the CREDO by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, once the bad boy of avant garde composition in Europe. Since eclipsed by Gorecki, Lutoslawski, et at this version of the Mass is strangely romantic and quite accessible. Though one misses the originality and risks of his inimitable "St Luke Passion" and other works from his earlier years, this mighty Credo is a solid piece of workmanship that will hopefully gain more performances.
The CREDO is divided into seven sections, all under the sole Credo portion of the traditional Mass. But by dwelling on the 'I believe in one God...' Penderecki has been able to introduce a more universal appeal by using the usual Latin texts, Polish hymns, and German chorales.
The sections are as follows: I. Credo in Unum Deum, II. Qui Propter Nos Homines, III. Et Incarnatus Est, IV. Crucifixus (the central and most extended portion), V. Et Resurrexit Tertia Die, VI. Et In Spiritum Sanctum (the most 'modern' of the movements), and VII. Et Vitam Venturi Saeculi.
Penderecki's scoring is diverse, rich and satisfying both for the large orchestra and for the chorus, boy's choir and soloists. Rilling holds this work together magnificently and has graced this premiere and subsequent recording with exceptional soloists: Thomas Quasthoff (!), Marietta Simpson, Milagro Vargas, Juliane Banse, and Thomas Randle. The overall effect is an emotional one and while this is rather tame Penderecki, there is enough creative risk to make it exciting! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 06
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Bravo!
A. Ruiz | Marietta, GA, USA | 03/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had the pleasure to sing this masterpiece in Puerto Rico back in 1998, directed by the own Penderecki and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever experienced. It is amazing! Every note, every beat, every instrument, every voice was perfectly done. When you listen to this work you can close your eyes and really see every single step in the story of Jesuschrist. The music can really make you feel you are right there and you can feel and see Jesuschrist going trough the calvary. It made me cry!...Is wonderful!...BRAVO PENDERECKI!"
Amazing
Erik North | 11/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A few months ago, my choir had the amazing privelege of working with Penderecki himself on this fantastic piece. Since i had been under the impression that it was relitively atonal, i was simply blown away by this piece. THe way the choir and the orchestra work together is simply amazing. This is by far the best composition of the past century, and i would recommend it to anyone."
Explosive And Ecstatic
Erik North | San Gabriel, CA USA | 10/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the great choral masterpieces of the late 20th century receives its world premiere recording right here--the "Credo" of the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. And it is a spectacular recording of a truly spectacular work.
Penderecki, interestingly enough, had actually planned to do his own setting of the Latin Mass, lasting about an hour in length in his own words. But he became so caught up in the "Credo" section of the traditional Latin Mass that he instead concentrated on that one section, and spread it out over fifty-one minutes. Many of his past works (particularly those ["De Natura Sonoris #1"; "De Natura Sonoris #2"; "Kanon Patschy"] that had been used to chilling effect by director Stanley Kubrick in his 1980 horror film masterpiece THE SHINING) were considered more or less avant-garde, and frequently disturbing at that. "Credo" is very different, in that it stays within tonal boundaries; and though it tests both orchestral and choral forces to their limits like a great many choral masterpieces past and present do, it also speaks to the human soul, again like all its illustrious predecessors.
Penderecki could not have asked for a better way to have this work premiered than on this recording made on July 11, 1998 at the Oregon Bach Festival, with the festival's director Helmuth Rilling conducting the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Choir, along with the Phoenix (Arizona) Boys Choir, and a cadre of top-notch vocal soloists (Juliane Banse; Milagro Vargas; Marietta Simpson; Thomas Randle; Thomas Quasthoff). Anyone with a taste for modern choral music should not hesitate to get this Hanssler release; it comes highly recommended."