There's been widespread acclaim for "Light Eternal -The Choral Music of Morten Lauridsen", a new release of Morten Lauridsen's music out now on the iconic yellow label of Deutsche Grammophon.
The new recording, released in the composer's 75th birthday year, features stunning performances (by the Chamber Choir of Europe and Nicol Matt) of Lux aeterna, the Nocturnes, O magnum mysterium, selected movements from Les Chansons des Roses and Madrigali. Also featured at the premiere recordings of Lauridsen's two most recent choral works Ya Eres Mia and Prayer. And there's even a download bonus track - a choral arrangement of his song Where Have the Actors Gone. Accompanying the choir in Lux aeterna are I Virtuosi Italiani, whilst the composer himself joins them at the piano in other tracks.
'My experience in producing and selling classical-music recordings is that most people don’t have formal training in music history or music theory, but they do want beauty in their lives, and they recognize it when they hear it. This is one of those recordings. If you care about choral music, especially contemporary American choral music, or if you simply want to add some beauty to your life, please vote with your wallet and buy this CD (or download), and also please consider buying half a dozen, a dozen, or more, as stocking stuffers (or, as “holiday,” or even non-holiday gifts). Lauridsen’s music is contemporary music that honors the entire tradition of choral singing, from O magnum mysterium‘s soundworld, which to me calls to mind the soundworld of Allegri, to Madrigali—Six FireSongs on Italian Renaissance Poems, which is perhaps best described as modernism—but with a heart and a soul…
These definitive performances, so engagingly recorded, earn my highest possible recommendation.'
The Tannhauser Gate (John Marks), 6 November 2018
Truly an international ensemble, the Chamber Choir of Europe comprises singers from no less than 14 different nationalities! Prior to its November release, the composer joined the choir and orchestra in September and October for a sell-out German tour that saw his works performed in venues such as the Leipzig Thomaskirche, Würzburg Augustinerkirche and venues in Mannheim, Hamburg and Bad Urach.
Click here to see all the Lauridsen publications available from our online store.