Eric Ericson - CD

For many years now, the name Eric Ericson is regularly mentioned in connection with Johann Sebastian Bach's choral works. With his chamber choir, the Swedish conductor has set new standards in terms of vocal power and thrilling precision. Audiences and critics alike are delighted.

This is the sixth release in EMI's American Classics series, a series devoted to releasing the Company's extensive catalogue of American music of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The first disc in this release is of music by, perhaps, the most widely known and ecclectic of composers, Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein was active in so many different fields of music, from composing for films and Broadway shows; writing operas, symphonies, chamber works, and some really effecting songs, to being one of the greatest conductors and musical educators of recent times.

The Divertimento for Orchestra, of 1980, is a relatively late work written to commemorate the centenary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is a piece full of wit and light-heartedness. The Broadway show 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was a notable flop when first produced in 1976, the year of the American bicentenary. Bernstein used some of the music in later compositions: an example of which is the final item on this disc, the beautiful song To what you said from Songfest. Chichester Psalms was written to a commission from the organist and the dean of Chichester Cathedral for the 1965 Festival.

Frank Martin (1890-1974) was born in Geneva and received encouragement from the great conductor Ernest Ansermet but was primarily self-taught as a composer. Like his compatriot, Honegger, Martin had to try and fit in against the two neighbouring musical traditions of France and Germany. This was very difficult as France was following the influence of Les Six whilst Germany tended towards Schönberg and his students, Berg and Webern. The first work in this collection to be composed was the Mass from 1922/6 which he considered to be “something concerning only God and myself”. This is music of archaic, spiritual purity, which he only allowed to have its premiere 40 years after its composition. The Four Pieces for Guitar from 1933 were the first work in which Martin experimented with Schönberg’s serial technique. During the second world war Martin produced some remarkable work – the Ballade for flute, string orchestra and piano in 1941, the Six Monologues from Jederman in 1943/4 and the Petite Symphonie Concertante for Harp, Harpsichord, Piano & Strings in 1944/5 which established his international reputation. The five Ariel choruses were studies made in 1950 for his full opera which followed over the next five years. In 1956 he settled in Naarden, a little town in the Netherlands to concentrate more on composition although from 1950 to 1957 he did teach in Cologne where one of his students was Stockhausen. The final works in this collection are the Ballade for Viola, Wind Orchestra and Percussion from 1972 and the Polyptyque of 1973 which is a group of six images of the Passion of Christ for violin solo and two string orchestras. It was recorded by its dedicatee, Yehudi Menuhin, in September 1974, two months before the composer’s death.

Although Poulenc’s choral works have been steadily climbing in the public’s estimation over the last few years, they have not yet won the status that the composer himself felt that they deserved.

This reissue appears to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Netherlands Chamber Choir. It is without a doubt the best recording the choir ever made. Both CD's received rave reviews in the French press when they first appeared. Under the inspiring direction of Eric Ericson the choir gives unearthly performances. Combining both the Sacred and the Secular choral works, this reissue is a true monument for the artistry of Poulenc. The absolute peak on this CD is the recording of La figure humaine – a piece Poulenc wrote to a text by Paul Eluard who depicts the horrors of war and the universal longing for freedom: Liberté!

The CD comes at a special price: 2 CD's for the price of 1 midprice!

Marking the difference between them, this disc offers an insight into Poulenc’s return to religion with his sacred music for a cappella choir, juxtaposed with Poulenc as a humanist; his secular music for a cappella choir. Performed by the excellent Netherlands Chamber Choir and conducted by Eric Ericson, this disc is a fascinating survey of Poulenc’s choral works.

This CD illustrates Rossini’s great compositional versatility: the works include choral fugues and a capella works for double choir. They range from religious works to drinking songs.

Following the 90th birthday of Eric Ericson the Chamber Choir’s treasure chest has been scoured for unique live recordings from the 1970s up to 2008. Gems include Benjamin Britten’s Sacred and Profane, which based on medieval texts from the 12th & 13th centuries, was his last choral composition for a professional ensemble.

Following the 90th birthday of Eric Ericson the Radio Choir’s treasure trove has now been plundered for unique live recordings with the maestro from 1969 to 1975. Gems include the motets Mein Odem ist schwach and Vater unser by Max Reger. One rarity is Drei französische Chöre by the controversial German composer Werner Egk.