Ēriks Ešenvalds: St. Luke Passion & Other Sacred Works Ieva Parša

• 1Part I: Crucify him (Chorus, Baritone)03:52
• 2Part II: Behold (Chorus, Mezzo-soprano)02:32
• 3Part III: And there followed him a great company of people (Chorus, Baritone)01:43
• 4Part IV: Shema Yisrael (Mezzo-soprano, Chorus)03:40
• 5Part V: Father, forgive them (Tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Chorus)04:58
• 6Part VI: And they parted his raiment (Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Tenor, Chorus)03:45
• 7Part VII: And the soldiers mocked him (Chorus, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone)05:11
• 8Part VIII: Does that lamp still burn (Baritone, Tenor, Chorus, Mezzo-soprano)04:55
• 9A Drop in the Ocean08:22
• 10The First Tears14:53
• 11Litany of the Heavens13:43
• Total Runtime01:07:34

Info for Ēriks Ešenvalds: St. Luke Passion & Other Sacred Works

Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977) is one the leading Latvian composers of vocal music and one of the leading Latvian composers of his generation. This recording features new works by the composer with the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir conducted by Sigvards Kļava.

The title piece of the recording is a 30-minute Passion according to St Luke, a work in eight movements completed by the composer in 2014. The work holds a special place in the composer’s repertoire as the first Passion by the celebrated composer of several choral works. The music is sumptuous, rich, and powerful, with heroic, picturesque, passionate, and ethereal elements.

A Drop in The Ocean (2006) is an impressive vocal work dedicated to Mother Teresa while The First Tears (2014) is based on an Inuit legend. Litany of the Heavens (2011) is a mysterious and magical work based on a religious poem by Fricis Bārda.

Latvian Radio Choir’s previous releases on Ondine have been highly successful. For instance, the recording of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil (ODE12065) was chosen as the Record of the Month, Editor’s Choice and received a nomination in the Gramophone Awards in 2013. Also their most recent release of choral works by Valentin Silvestrov (ODE12665) received Gramophone Editor’s Choice.

Ieva Parša, mezzo-soprano
Janis Kurševs, tenor
Daumants Kalninš, baritone
Liga Paegle, alto
Aleksandrs Maijers, recorder, jaw harp
Latvian Radio Choir
Sinfonietta Riga
Sigvards Kļava, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Ēriks Ešenvalds: St. Luke Passion & Other Sacred Works