Et nox in diem versa by Kjell Habbestad

Kjell Habbestad

Et nox in diem versa

Format: CD
Label: Lawo Classics
UPC: 7090020181585
Catnr: LWC 1136
Release date: 08 December 2017
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Label
Lawo Classics

UPC
7090020181585

Catalogue number
LWC 1136

Release date
08 December 2017

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

About the album

... AND NIGHT TURNED INTO DAY
LAWO Classics presents here an entire album devoted to a selection of Kjell Habbestad’s sacred choral works. The music on this release was written over a period of 35 years and ranges from the composer’s opus 1 to opus 90. Textually, the works constitute a cycle of the church year, from the Annunciation to Christmas, and from Lent and Passion Week to Easter and Pentecost.

The Latvian Radio Choir, one of the world’s leading choirs, performs music from all periods, but has specialised mainly in contemporary music. There is hardly another choir that would be able to master the tonal challenges presented by certain works on this album. Thus the recording session in Riga turned out to be a very special experience both for the composer and the recording company.

Other contributors to the recording are Oslo Cathedral Choir, conductor Vivanne Sydnes, and Kåre Nordstoga at the organ. The reason for this is that the first three tracks, in the midst of a Latin and English language landscape, present Anglican chants with (New) Norwegian text. As one could not expect the Latvian Radio Choir to take on this task, the Latvian and the Norwegian choir pass the baton back and forth in the three works Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis and Benedictus Dominus.

Composer Kjell Habbestad studied church music and is Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. He has an earlier album of organ music, Gaudeamus, on the LAWO Classics label, and other releases are planned.

LAWO Classics präsentiert hier ein Album, das einer Auswahl von Kjell Habbestads geistlichen Chorwerken gewidmet ist. Die Musik zu dieser Veröffentlichung wurde über einen Zeitraum von 35 Jahren geschrieben und reicht von Opus 1 bis Opus 90. Textlich bilden die Werke einen Zyklus des Kirchenjahres, von der Verkündigung bis Weihnachten, von Fastenzeit und Passionswoche bis Ostern und Pfingsten.
Der Chor des Lettischen Rundfunks, einer der weltweit führenden Chöre, spielt Musik aus allen Epochen, hat sich aber vor allem auf zeitgenössische Musik spezialisiert. Kaum ein anderer Chor ist in der Lage, die klanglichen Herausforderungen zu meistern, die bestimmte Werke auf diesem Album bieten. Die Aufnahme-Session in Riga entpuppte sich für den Komponisten und die Plattenfirma als ein ganz besonderes Erlebnis.
Weitere Mitwirkende an der Aufnahme sind der Osloer Domchor, die Dirigentin Vivanne Sydnes und Kåre Nordstoga an der Orgel. Und zwar weil die ersten drei Tracks, inmitten einer lateinischen und englischen Sprachlandschaft, anglikanische Gesänge mit (neuen) norwegischen Texten präsentieren. Da man nicht erwarten konnte, dass der Chor des Lettischen Rundfunks diese Aufgabe übernehmen würde, wechseln sich der lettische und der norwegische Chor in den drei Werken Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis und Benedictus Dominus ab.
Der Komponist Kjell Habbestad studierte Kirchenmusik und ist Professor für Musiktheorie und Komposition an der Norwegischen Musikakademie. Er hat ein früheres Album mit Orgelmusik, Gaudeamus auf LAWO Classics veröffentlicht, weitere Publikationen sind geplant.

Artist(s)

Latvian Radio Choir

THE LATVIAN RADIO CHOIR (LRC) ranks among the top professional chamber choirs in Europe. Since 1992, LRC has two conductors: Sigvards Kļava, Music Director and Principal Conductor; and Kaspars Putniņš. The LRC could be described as a sound laboratory: the singers explore and hone their skills by turning to the mysteries of traditional singing, as well as to the art of quartertone and overtone singing and other sound production techniques. In so doing, the choir has established a new understanding of the possibilities of a human voice. One could also say that the choir is the creator of a new choral paradigm: every singer is a distinct individual with his or her own vocal signature and roles in performances. The expertise...

THE LATVIAN RADIO CHOIR (LRC) ranks among the top professional chamber choirs in Europe. Since 1992, LRC has two conductors: Sigvards Kļava, Music Director and Principal Conductor; and Kaspars Putniņš.

The LRC could be described as a sound laboratory: the singers explore and hone their skills by turning to the mysteries of traditional singing, as well as to the art of quartertone and overtone singing and other sound production techniques. In so doing, the choir has established a new understanding of the possibilities of a human voice. One could also say that the choir is the creator of a new choral paradigm: every singer is a distinct individual with his or her own vocal signature and roles in performances. The expertise of singers has made LRC a remarkably flexible ensemble, one that is able to deal with vocal and instrumental music as well as with opera performances, multi-media projects, intimate a capella talks, and theatrical shows where singers can express themselves as both soloists and talented actors.

The repertoire of LRC ranges from Renaissance music to the most sophisticated scores by modern composers.

The choir has participated in the top international musical forums in Salzburg and Mont-pellier, the Baltic Sea Festival, Klangspuren Festival, La Musica, Ultima, the Venice Biennale, White Light Festival USA, Soundstreams in Canada. It has performed in such renowned venues as the Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Lincoln Center in New York and Dresden Frauenkirche. LRC has successfully worked with many outstanding guest conductors, including Riccardo Muti, Heinz Holliger, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Stephen Layton, Tõnu Kaljuste, James Wood, and Essa-Pekka Salonen.

Every season, three or four new CDs appear on such labels as Hyperion Records, BIS, GB Records, Ondine, and Naïve. Released on the ECM label, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s opus Adam’s Lament received the prestigious Grammy Award in 2014 for ‘’Best choral performance.’’ LRC collaborated on this recording with the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, the ensemble Vox Clamantis, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, all under the baton of Tõnu Kaljuste. Among the most valued recordings by LRC is Sergey Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, praised by Gramophone and American radio NPR, Elīna Garanča, released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2014, and Valentin Silvestrov, nominated for the 2016 Gramophone Classical Music Awards.

The choir has been awarded the most esteemed musical prizes; the Latvian Music Grand Prix, nine times and the Award of the Cabinet of Ministers in 2014 for the outstanding contribution in Latvian music and achievements on the international stage.

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Sigvarts Klava (conductor)

SIGVARDS KĻAVA (b. 1962) has been Music Director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. Under his skillful leadership, the choir has recorded a large number of choral works ranging from compositions by virtually unknown composers of the past to the works of contemporary composers from Latvia and elsewhere. He was also the prime mover in launching several popular concert series including Meeting in Music, Evening Talk at St. John’s and Sacred Chants. Kļava has also been active in the amateur choir movement, both as the leader of several distinguished amateur choirs and as a member of the steering committee and Chief Conductor of the Latvian Song Festival. He is a graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with...

SIGVARDS KĻAVA (b. 1962) has been Music Director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. Under his skillful leadership, the choir has recorded a large number of choral works ranging from compositions by virtually unknown composers of the past to the works of contemporary composers from Latvia and elsewhere. He was also the prime mover in launching several popular concert series including Meeting in Music, Evening Talk at St. John’s and Sacred Chants.

Kļava has also been active in the amateur choir movement, both as the leader of several distinguished amateur choirs and as a member of the steering committee and Chief Conductor of the Latvian Song Festival. He is a graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with a degree in conducting. He has also studied at Bachakademie Stuttgart and has taken master classes at the Oregon Bach Festival. He is currently a professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.
Kļava has won the Latvian Grand Music Award numerous times and has also received the Award of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia. He has performed at major concert venues all over the world. He is frequently engaged as a member of international juries.

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Composer(s)

Kjell Habbestad

KJELL HABBESTAD (b. 1955) is Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, of which he is a graduate in church music and composition. His catalog of works includes 97 opuses including dramatic works (operas, oratorios), orchestral works, solo instrument concertos, chamber works for various combinations of instruments, works for organ and piano, and a large number choral works. Habbestad’s larger works include The Moster Pageant, which has been performed annually in an amphitheater at Moster, Norway (on the island of Bømlo), since 1984; the oratorios One Night on Earth (1983) and Adam and Eve (2008); the operas Hans Egede’s Night (1995) and Nenia— in Memory of Fartein Valen (2014), all with texts by Paal-Helge...

KJELL HABBESTAD (b. 1955) is Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, of which he is a graduate in church music and composition. His catalog of works includes 97 opuses including dramatic works (operas, oratorios), orchestral works, solo instrument concertos, chamber works for various combinations of instruments, works for organ and piano, and a large number choral works.

Habbestad’s larger works include The Moster Pageant, which has been performed annually in an amphitheater at Moster, Norway (on the island of Bømlo), since 1984; the oratorios One Night on Earth (1983) and Adam and Eve (2008); the operas Hans Egede’s Night (1995) and Nenia— in Memory of Fartein Valen (2014), all with texts by Paal-Helge Haugen. Also worthy of mention are the opera Karlstad 1905 — A Page in the History of Civilization (2016), and the musical The Count of Monte Cristo (2011), both with librettos by the composer.

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