Hymn to the Dawn - Holst, Prokofiev, Beach, Rheinberger, Mendelssohn, ...

Holst, Gustav, Mendelssohn, Felix, Prokofiev, Sergey, Rheinberger, Joseph Gabriel, Rossini, Gioachino, różni kompozytorzy

Cloutier, Grace, Etherea Vocal Ensemble, Greten-Harrison, Derek

DE 3431

Following the conspicuous success of Ceremony of Carols, Etherea Vocal Ensembles stunning debut album, we at Delos lost no time in producing their second effort: Hymn to the Dawn. Containing several world premiere performances, the CD is an enchanting mix of mostly uncommon works for female choir by Gustav Holst, Amy Beach, Josef Rheinberger, Felix Mendelssohn and Giaochino Rossini; the program includes a cappella pieces and others with harp, organ, or piano accompaniment. While all of these lovely works are standouts among the limited female choir repertoire, Holsts third group of Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda and the Two Eastern Pictures are particularly rare, exotic, and ripe for rediscovery. • The trebles-only Etherea Vocal Ensemble is perhaps the most unusual mini-choir of its kind, consisting of eight voices belonging to seven accomplished ladies and one supremely versatile gentleman: Derek Greten-Harrison, the ensembles director and performing countertenor (also an occasional baritone). The groups pinpoint intonation, technical perfection, and celestially pure and gleaming sound never fail to enthrall their fortunate audiences. Keyboard wizard Alan Murchie and virtuoso harpist Grace Cloutier (who also performs the beguiling solo Prelude by Prokofiev here) provide sensitive and expert accompaniment.

CD x 1

Delos

3/23/13

13491343129