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Paulus: To Be Certain of the Dawn

Barry Abelson (cantor), Elizabeth Futral (soprano), Christina Baldwin (mezzo-soprano), John Tessier (tenor) & Philip Cokorinos (bass-baritone)

Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale, Minnesota Boychoir, The Basilica Cathedral Choir & The Cathedral Choristers, Osmo Vänskä

Release Date: 30th Mar 2009
Catalogue No: BISCD1726
Label: BIS
Length: 59 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Work length59:03

$21.00

$27.30

$36.75

Barry Abelson, Elizabeth Futral, Christina Baldwin, John Tessier, Philip Cokorinos
Minnesota Boychoir, Minnesota Chorale, Basilica Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Choristers, Minnesota Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä
Recorded: February 2008
Recording Venue: Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, United States

Pt. I: Renewal: Sh'ma Yisrael! (cantor)

Track length2:56

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Pt. I: Renewal: Teshuvah (soprano, tenor, chorus)

Track length4:21

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Pt. I: Renewal: First Blessing (children's chorus)

Track length2:52

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Pt. I: Renewal: Kingdom of Night (cantor, children's chorus, chorus)

Track length4:36

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Pt. I: Renewal: V'a Havta Le Reacha Kamocha (cantor)

Track length1:57

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Pt. II: Remembrance: 2 Little Girls in the Street (soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus)

Track length3:50

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Second Blessing (children's chorus)

Track length1:22

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Where Was the Light? (chorus)

Track length1:09

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Old Man, Young Man (tenor, baritone, chorus)

Track length4:16

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Third Blessing (soprano, children's chorus)

Track length1:15

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Pt. II: Remembrance: This We Ask of You (chorus)

Track length1:00

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Du sollst deinen Nachsten lieben wie dich selbst (cantor, chorus)

Track length1:48

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Pt. II: Remembrance: 3 Coats (mezzo-soprano, tenor, chorus)

Track length2:05

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Fourth Blessing (children's chorus)

Track length1:54

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Breathe in Us, Spirit of God (tenor, baritone, chorus)

Track length2:42

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Boy reading (baritone, chorus)

Track length2:48

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Interlude. Veil of Tears

Track length3:42

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Pt. II: Remembrance: Hymn to the Eternal Flame (soprano, children's chorus, chorus)

Track length2:27

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Pt. III: Visions: B'Tselem Elohim (soloists, children's chorus, chorus)

Track length6:28

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Pt. III: Visions: Voices of Survivors (soloists)

Track length2:45

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Pt. III: Visions: V'a Havta Le Reacha Kamocha (cantor, children's chorus, chorus)

Track length2:50

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About
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About

This oratorio, To Be Certain of the Dawn, was commissioned by the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis as a gift to the Jewish community to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the freeing of Holocaust survivors and as an important lesson that the prevention of future genocide is in the hands of today’s children. In creating the work, the composer and librettist have emphasized the victimization of innocent children, with a children’s choir playing an important part in the score. This aspect was further emphasised at the first performance in 2005 by the projection of photographs from 1935-1938 of Jewish children living in cities and villages in Eastern Europe.

The highly moving work, which raises eternal questions regarding humanity, tolerance and respect, became a labour of love from Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as the other musicians involved in the first performance, many of whom also participated in the present recording. The oratorio has subsequently been performed by student forces in the USA who have taken it around the world.

Stephen Paulus, a prolific Minnesota-based composer, has received commissions from orchestras and institutions such as the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Washington Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale. His close collaboration with librettist Michael Dennis Browne on To be Certain of the Dawn is a continuation of a creative partnership of long standing which has also produced, among other works, the operas The Village Singer, Harmoonia and The Three Hermits. Paulus “often finds melodic patterns that are fresh and familiar at the same time. ... His scoring is invariably expert and exceptionally imaginative in textures and use of instruments.” The New York Times on a different recording.

Paulus: To Be Certain of the Dawn

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