Jadwiga Rappé, an alto on this album, has performed the role of the goddess Erda in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen in nine premiere productions and on an EMI recording.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, the composer, believed art is about sharing important spiritual experiences and doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Compositional Technique
Górecki's songs often feature low, dark timbres, with brighter colors used in climaxes to emphasize important words or ideas.
Compositional Technique
The melodic writing in Górecki's songs is simple, based on repetitive formulas and seconds-based motion, sometimes resembling a majestic, spiritual liturgical recitative.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Górecki meticulously calligraphed Pope John XXIII's maxim, 'doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way,' and displayed it as a motto in his study.
Recording & Production
This album was co-financed by a grant from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage through the Fund for the Promotion of Culture under the 'Muzyczny ślad' (Musical Trace) programme.
Performer Biography
Urszula Kryger, a mezzo-soprano on this album, was the first Polish singer to perform at Milan's La Scala, with a Chopin song recital in 1995.
