This information has been flying a bit under the radar for me. Just so that you know.

Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"
Performed by Beth Gibbons and The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki Out March 29, 2019

Beth Gibbons & the Polish National Radio Symphony - Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3 (Trailer)



This is one of those very rare "classical" pieces of music that speak to me. Even more, it is hardly possible to overstate it's importance to me. I know that many people think alike.
It's a massive, huge orchestral drone and it's sad beauty is heartbreaking. It's lyrics bemoan separation of mother and child due to war and brutality.

To me this release is like a combination from all parts of my life. Conductor Penderecki's St Luke's Passion used to be my absolutely favourite piece when I must have been around 7. I do remember sitting in my father's "music room", my ear glued to the speaker, I was so mesmerized by this strange but captivating music, it never left me. Hearing it again for the first time about 30 years later many things became clear, I felt totally at home and reminded of all those electronic avantgardists I admired. All that was already there in that "old" piece, that I loved a a child.

A few years later, I suppose it was some time during the 90s but I do not remember the exact circumstances, I heard Gorecky's Symphony No. 3 and it moved my world. That beauty, sadness but hope and that unbelievably hypnotic orchestration changed everything. I seldom listen to it, but I have never been the same person since. It's a composition that permutates the borders of drone ambient and classical minimalism. It's emotional impact cannot be overstated.

And then, later during the 90s, came Portishead, and their enigmatic singer Beth Gibbons. It took me a while to really get into them but they definetely have become a fixture in my world, my personal breakthrough came with "3", which is a stunning and edgy masterpiece.

And now there will be a combination of all three.
Just ordered the deluxe vinyl edition. Not because of the vinyl but because a HighRes Wav download is included and also the DVD. And this edition is just a little bit more expensive than the limited CD+DVD edition. It will find a nice place on my wall and our digital audio collection. Very much looking forward to this one.




!Music