Wolfgang Rihm: Et Lux
Huelgas Ensemble, Minguet Quartett & Paul van Nevel
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Release Date: 13 April 2015
Label: ECM New Series
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 028948115853
Huelgas Ensemble, Minguet Quartett & Paul van Nevel
Release Date: 13 April 2015
Label: ECM New Series
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 028948115853
Description
'Et Lux' is an alluring and timeless work for vocal ensemble and string quartet by leading German composer Wolfgang Rihm, here receiving its first recording.
The hour-long piece is dedicated to The Hilliard Ensemble and the Arditti Quartet who gave the world premiere in Cologne in November 2009 and its UK premiere later that month at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. This pairing of a vocal group and a string quartet specializing in early music and contemporary music respectively is replicated by the artists on this ECM disc - the Cologne-based Minguet Quartet and the Belgian early music group, the Huelgas Ensemble whose founder, Paul van Nevel, conducts the recording.
'Et Lux' emerges as if from centuries ago, and reflects upon the musical processes that have shaped it, including the ritual of the requiem: "What we have is not music remembered but music remembering." It incorporates text fragments of the Latin Requiem Mass, which appear as components of a progressively realized whole. "Great significance is displayed by the reappearance of specific groups of words, for example 'et lux perpetua luceat' (and let perpetual light shine upon them). Through circling reflection the comforting yet disturbing meaning of the words may become perceptible."
Reviewing the premiere performance the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the work's interwoven musical and linguistic elements while the Daily Telegraph said of its UK premiere: "Beautifully paced and very moving". 'Et Lux' was recorded in February 2014 in Antwerp. The CD booklet includes an introductory statement by Wolfgang Rihm, and liner notes by Paul Griffiths and Wolfgang Schreiber.
Personnel: Paul van Nevel (conductor), Huelgas Ensemble: Axel le Bernage, Sabine Lutzenberger (soprano), Terry Wey, Achim Schulz, Stefan Berghammer, Matthew Vine (tenor), Tim Whitheley, Guillaume Orly (bass), Minguet Quartett: Ulrich Isfort, Annette Reisinger (violin), Aroa Sorin (viola), Matthias Diener (cello)
Tracklisting
Delian Quartett
Anna Gourari, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana & Markus Poschner
Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica & Vida Mikneviciute
Arvo Part
Thomas Larcher
John Holloway Ensemble
Heinz Holliger & Anton Kernjak
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra & Tonu Kaljuste
Graindelavoix; Bjorn Schmelzer
Heinrich-Isaac-Ensemble; ensemble officium
William Vann, Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Derek Welton, Iain Burnside
Basler Madrigalisten; Raphael Immoos
Proteus Ensemble; Stephen Shellard
William Vann, Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Jamie Andrews, Ashley Riches
The Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice
Soloists; l'arpa festante