Petridis's oratorio Saint Paul was commissioned for the 1951 celebration of the 19th centenary of St. Paul's arrival in Athens, an initiative by Professor Gerasimos I. Konidaris.
Compositional Technique
Petridis's oratorio Saint Paul uses a 'Liturgical Recitativo' style for the Narrator, where the text is articulated on fixed notes supported by a pedal, similar to Orthodox Church readings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Petridis aimed to blend his polyphonic approach to Byzantine music with the oratorio form, while also drawing inspiration from Debussy for harmony and Bach for polyphony.
Composer Biography
Petros Petridis, a key figure in the Greek National School of Music, initially studied law in Paris but abandoned it in 1914 to dedicate himself entirely to music.
Composition History
The creation of Saint Paul faced initial resistance from conservative clergy and professors who questioned its adherence to Byzantine tradition, requiring the intervention of Archbishop Spyridon.
Notable Performances
Petridis's Symphony No. 1 'Hellenic' was premiered in 1933 by the Athens Conservatory Symphony Orchestra under Dimitris Mitropoulos, and later performed by the Berlin Philharmonic and Paris Conservatoire Orchestra.
Recording & Production
Conductor Byron Fidetzis meticulously restored and edited all works on this album from Petridis's original manuscripts.
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