Warsaw Philharmonic: Penderecki Conducts Vol 1

"My art, with its deep Christian roots, aims to restore the human metaphysical space, shattered by 20th centrury cataclysms.  Restoring the sacred dimension of reality is the only way in which man can be saved."  Krzysztof Penderecki.

This album contains a selction of Poland's greatest living composer's vocal-instrumental works on religious subjects, representing different artistic responses to the challenge expressed above.  Our selection also provides proof of the special importance that the composer attaches to what he considers as "the most difficult of instruments" - namely, the human voice.

Penderecki shot to notoriety in the musical avant-garde in 1960 with the haunting string music of his Threndody to the Victims of Hiroshima.  He remains a doyen of contemporary music alongside Arvo Part and the late, lamented Henryk Gorecki.  Here, the 82 year old composer conducts his own music with his national orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic.  He also gives the triumphant premiere of a powerful new sacred work.  Dies Illa, for soloists (Johanna Rusanene, Agnieszka Rehlis and Nikolay Didenko), choir and orchestra, composed to mark the centenary of WW1 in 2014.