Szymanowski: Stabat Mater & Harnasie

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

Once again, Edward Gardner shows that he excels in Szymanowski's rich orchestral tapestries. This performance mixes wild mystery with coruscating brilliance, somehow managing - despite being... — BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 2nd Sep 2013
Catalogue No: CHSA5123
Label: Chandos
Series: Edward Gardner Polish Music Series
Length: 58 minutes

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

This release includes a digital booklet

Chandos - Downloads at MP3 Prices

Special offer ends: 22/05/2024

Szymanowski: Stabat Mater, Op. 53

Work length23:31

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Edward Gardner, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gábor Bretz, Lucy Crowe, BBC Symphony Chorus, Pamela Helen Stephen
Recorded: 5-6 January 2013
Recording Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South London, England, United Kingdom

I. Stala Matka bolejaca (Soprano, Soprano & Alto Chorus)

Track length6:30

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. I ktoz, widzac tak cierpiaca (Baritone, Chorus)

Track length2:25

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Matko, zrodlo wszechmilosci (Soprano, Alto, Soprano & Alto Chorus)

Track length3:59

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Spraw, niech placze z Toba razem (Soprano, Alto, Chorus)

Track length2:52

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Panno slodka, racz, mozolem (Baritone, Chorus)

Track length2:46

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Chrystus niech mi bedzie grodem (Soprano, Alto, Baritone, Chorus)

Track length4:59

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Szymanowski: Harnasie, Op. 55, Tableau 1

Work length17:11

$5.00

$6.50

$8.75

Edward Gardner, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Robert Murray
Recording Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South London, England, United Kingdom

I. Redyk

Track length4:57

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Scena mimiczna, "zaloty"

Track length2:11

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Marsz zbojnicki (Tenor)

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Scena mimiczna, "Harnas i Dziewczyna"

Track length3:49

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Taniec zbojnicki - Final

Track length4:39

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Szymanowski: Harnasie, Op. 55, Tableau 2

Work length17:42

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Edward Gardner, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, Robert Murray
Recording Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South London, England, United Kingdom

V. Wesele (Chorus)

Track length2:25

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Cepiny (Chorus)

Track length1:59

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Piesn siuhajow (Tenor Chorus)

Track length1:14

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Taniec goralski (Tenor)

Track length3:50

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VIII. Napad harnasiow - Taniec (Chorus)

Track length5:23

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IX. Epilog (Tenor)

Track length2:51

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

About
Reviews
Explore

About

With this new release, Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony Orchestra continue their series exploring Polish music for Chandos. This is the second volume in the survey of orchestral works by Karol Szymanowski. The first was well received by critics and the public alike. A review in BBC Music read: ‘Chandos’s [Polish series] reaches impressive heights… Gardner shows how he has become one of the finest non-Polish interpreters of Szymanowski.’

Vigorous and colourful, the ballet-pantomime Harnasie (1927 – 31) is typical of Szymanowski’s late style. It is ambitious, too, in its attempt at re-working folk music in symphonic form. Scored for a massive orchestra with tenor soloist and chorus, the work concerns the abduction of a peasant bride-to-be by the outlaw Harnas and his followers, the ‘Harnasie’, legendary robbers with more than just a hint of a Robin Hood reputation.

Szymanowski described his Stabat Mater as a ‘Peasant Requiem’. In fact, its pairing of Polish musical elements with liturgical text is entirely unique, and a clear reflection of the composer’s nationalistic convictions. Despite its modest size and its use of very modest orchestral forces, the work is considered one of Szymanowski’s most expressive and resonant, and it is one of the crowning glories of twentieth-century sacred music.

The internationally acclaimed soprano Lucy Crowe was recently described by The Sunday Times in the following glowing terms: ‘Lucy Crowe dazzles with her every appearance, a young singer blessed with look-at-me-and-listen charisma.’ She is joined by the mezzo-soprano Pamela Helen Stephen, baritone Gabor Bretz, and tenor Robert Murray, all of whom enjoy international reputations, performing with eminent orchestras and conductors around the world.

Reviews

November 2013

Once again, Edward Gardner shows that he excels in Szymanowski's rich orchestral tapestries. This performance mixes wild mystery with coruscating brilliance, somehow managing - despite being recorded in Croydon last winter - to breath the high-mountain air.

7th September 2013

There is pain and poignancy in the music, but above all a deep expressive beauty, especially in the finale’s soaring soprano melody. The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with a quartet of soloists led by Lucy Crowe, give a performance of admirable sensitivity

October 2013

a performance that is judged to a nicety through Edward Gardner's wise, sensitive pacing and his subtle, supple summoning up of the music's devotional aura.

2nd October 2013

Lucy Crowe especially has a beautifully clean and pure voice and makes the most ethereal sound in this gorgeous music. Her partnership with Pamela Helen Stephen is a joy to hear.

24th October 2013

Gardner's performance [of Harnasie] with the BBC Symphony Orchestra vividly captures that earthy, unbuttoned spontaneity and the rhythmic drive of the music; his account of the other major work of Szymanowski's final period, the Stabat Mater, is just as convincing.

Offer,Szymanowski: Stabat Mater & Harnasie

SACD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue