Track Listings (13) - Disc #1| All Artists: Michael George, John Tavener, Frances Cooke, Richard Hickox, John Hugh Thomas, Simon Wright, BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, Patricia Razario, Patricia Rozario, John Mark Ainsley, Andrew Murgatroyd Title: Tavener: We Shall See Him As He Is Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: Chandos Release Date: 7/27/1994 Genre: Classical Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Sacred & Religious Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 095115912829 |
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Search - Michael George, John Tavener, Frances Cooke :: Tavener: We Shall See Him As He Is
 | Michael George, John Tavener, Frances Cooke Tavener: We Shall See Him As He Is Genre: Classical
Tavener and librettist Mother Thekla have conceived this work as a series of icons depicting scenes from Christ's life. As with painted icons, the text and music don't narrate a scene but rather depict its individual eleme... more » |
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Amazon.com essential recording Tavener and librettist Mother Thekla have conceived this work as a series of icons depicting scenes from Christ's life. As with painted icons, the text and music don't narrate a scene but rather depict its individual elements to concentrate the worshiper's mind. Take, for example, the complete text of Ikon IX: "I saw: The Cross. His Body crucified. The Blood. The Water. Linen clothes. Napkin." The music, though similarly simple, is vivid (and beautifully performed): The Creation arises from bubbling bass chaos; the Dove at the Baptism descends in a shimmering violin halo; the Wedding at Cana is one wild party. Tavener's technique of repeating melodies throughout works well here: themes are scored differently at each appearance and come to seem like similar colors used in different icons. --Matthew Westphal Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsAnother work from a true master Mark Swinton | 12/12/1999 (4 out of 5 stars) "I must admit, when this piece was first performed in my home town, I knew nothing about it. Thus it was something of a surprise to find out that it was commissioned for Chester Cathedral's 900th. Anniversary. This recording was made five days after the Chester premiere, during a BBC Proms performance under the same people. Unfortunately, this is an example of how live recordings can be a bit of a let-down- there is coughing, spluttering and rustling galore at times, which is a particular problem in the very quiet sections (such as the very haunting depiction on high strings of Christ in the Tomb). Hence, I am giving it four stars (it really deserves four and a half). Technicalities of recording aside, the piece and its execution here represents undoubtedly some of Tavener's finest work ever, and he certainly deserves more recognition for it. The iconic element is certainly present throughout the work: depictions in simple words and music that bring Christ to life in our very ears. Freshness oozes forth from the music, particularly in the halos of strings that recur frequently at the ends of several ikons. As for the performance, the low basses so typical of Tavener seem dull and not sonorous (though having been on the choral scene myself as early as 1992 I know that not many basses in Chester could cope with the demands placed upon them) but in the main, this is a truly great and outstanding interpretation of a powerful work. Tavener has stated that he believes music comes through him, not from him. If you doubt that, listen to this disc. You may start to wonder..."
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