Henryk Górecki
Of all the modern Polish composers to have established themselves internationally, Górecki is a unique case. The composer started out working with more experimental and atonal pieces which bared a resemblance to works by Stockhausen or perhaps even Xenakis (the influence of his contemporaries, such as Penderecki, should also be noted). As time went by however, his work took on a much more minimalist and religious aspect. It is these later works that brought the spotlight on Górecki and more specifically, the 1992 recording (but composed in 1976) of his Symphony No. 3 as performed by Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta (conducted by David Zinman). As if by miracle, this single recording turned the humble composer into a chart-topping classical superstar! Over half a million households would soon include this recording yet for some obscure reason, these record sales failed to create a wider audience for his other works. I am one of the many who discovered him through this very album but, unlike others, I did explore more of the composer's works. Unfortunately (and probably the reason why Górecki isn't a household name yet), I find these nowhere near as intense as his third symphony. I doubt I will be getting any more recordings of his work as I doubt I will ever be as impressed as I was with this particular release.
Symphony No. 3 - Opus 36 (Dawn Upshaw/London Sinfonietta/David Zinman)Label: Elektra Records/Nonesuch Release: 1992 Format: CD Cat. no: CD 79282 |
|
Song list: | |
| |