Willem Jeths: Requiem Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan & Willem Jeths

• 1Praefatio02:04
• 2Introitus07:54
• 3Kyrie02:28
• 4Dies Irae03:25
• 5Tuba mirum04:47
• 6Rex tremendae02:01
• 7Recordare01:26
• 8Lacrimosa02:39
• 9Offertorium02:30
• 10Sanctus02:45
• 11Benedictus03:31
• 12Agnus Dei04:27
• 13Lux aeterna08:08
• 14Libera me02:00
• 15In paradisum06:49
• Total Runtime56:54

Info for Willem Jeths: Requiem

Death – as a source of reflection, blinding insight or terror – has become an idée fixe in the works of Willem Jeths (born in Amersfoort in 1959). Gradually, death as a topos took on the form of a philosophical question, which perhaps only found its proper place in the Requiem, with the First Symphony (CC 72693) acting as a staging post. There is a link here to a process of increasing awareness, for which Jeths sought the sounds in his second violin concerto. He said: “Death is not the final end but rather a transition to a different phase." This idea is elaborated in the Requiem in the form of a musical journey to the hereafter, taking comfort from beauty and solemn mourning.

Jeths concedes that he had no need for experiments in form, which in this case would have jarred with the intended servitude to his theme. There was no need for a full quartet of soloists; two were sufficient. The orchestral scoring, with double wind and brass, is relatively modest, although Jeths' predilection for exotic colours is evidenced by his use of soprano recorder, harp, organ and an extensive array of percussion instruments including glockenspiel, vibraphone and xylophone. This time, however, they serve a higher purpose, namely the melody. "This is my most melodious work" says the composer. The Requiem must come from the heart and the heart sings.

Kelly God, soprano
Andreas Wolf, bass-baritone
Netherlands Radio Choir
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
James Gaffigan, conductor

James Gaffigan
Hailed for the natural ease of his conducting and the compelling insight of his musicianship, James Gaffigan continues to attract international attention and is one of the most outstanding American conductors working today. James Gaffigan is currently the Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester. Since taking up this position, he has made a very significant impact on the Orchestra's profile both nationally and internationally with a number of highly successful tours and recordings. In recognition of this success, James’ contract has been further extended until 2022. He also holds positions as Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and he was appointed the first Principal Guest Conductor of the Gürzenich Orchestra, Cologne in September 2013, a position that was created for him.

In addition to these titled positions, James Gaffigan is in high demand working with leading Orchestras and opera houses throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. In recent seasons, James Gaffigan has also enjoyed guest engagements with the London, Dresden, Czech and Rotterdam Philharmonics, Wiener Symphoniker, Dresden Staatskapelle, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Konzerthaus Berlin, Zurich Tonhalle, Gothenburg, Tokyo Metropolitan and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Leipzig, Berlin and Stuttgart Radio Orchestras. In the US, he has additionally worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and National Symphony Orchestras. The 2015/16 season included concerts with the New York Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Dallas Symphony. In the 2016/17 season, James conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Detroit, BBC, Bournemouth and Sydney Symphonies; the Oslo, Seoul and Los Angeles Philharmonics; in Paris he visited the Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre National de France, and he made his debut with the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra.

In opera, James Gaffigan has worked with the Wiener Staatsoper (La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro), Glyndebourne Festival (Così Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, Falstaff), Norwegian Opera (La Traviata), Staatsoper Hamburg (Salome) and the Bayerische Staatsoper (Don Giovanni).

In the 2017/18 season James will appear with the Chicago Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in addition to commitments with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. He will also make his debuts with both the Chicago Lyric Opera with a production of Così Fan Tutte , and with Santa Fe Opera in a production of Ariadne on Naxos. He will return to the Wiener Staatsoper for La Traviata. Further ahead James makes his debuts with both the Netherlands Opera and Metropolitan Opera.

James Gaffigan was a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and was part of American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival. In 2009, he completed a three-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony in a position specially created for him by Michael Tilson Thomas. Prior to that appointment, he was the Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra where he worked under Music Director Franz Welser Möst from 2003 through 2006. James Gaffigan was also named a first prize winner at the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition.

Netherlands Radio Choir
With its 60 members the Netherlands Radio Choir is one of the largest and most versatile professional choirs in the world. Since its formation shortly after the Second World War, the choir has been closely connected with Netherlands Public Broadcasting. It has performed numerous Dutch and international premières of contemporary repertoire, and regularly presents older works that are seldom performed. All its concerts are broadcast by Dutch Radio 4 in the public broadcasting series NTR Saturday Matinee, AVROTROS Friday Concerts and the Concertgebouw's Sunday Morning Concert series. The Netherlands Radio Choir is also a regular participant in special productions of the Holland Festival.

In September 2017 the choir received the Concertgebouw Prize 2017, together with its partner, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. The choir also regularly works with other orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

As from August 2015 Klaas Stok is the choir leader. In September 2010, Michael Gläser was appointed principal guest conductor. From the 2012-2013 season until August 2015 Gijs Leenaars was chief conductor. He was preceded by Kenneth Montgomery, Robin Gritton, Martin Wright, Simon Halsey and Celso Antunes. Peter Dijkstra has been appointed First Guest Conductor starting in September 2018.

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