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  • Henryk Mikolaj Górecki

  • Symphony No. 3 'Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs', Op. 36 (1976)

  • Chester Music Ltd (Worldwide except Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, China, countries of former Czechoslovakia, Croatia, former territories of Yugoslavia, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Hungary and countries of former USSR)

All territories except Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, China, countries of the former Czechoslovakia, Croatia and the rest of the former territory of Yugoslavia, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Hungary and the whole territory of the former USSR, where the copyright is held by Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne, and US, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Barbados where the rights are controlled by Boosey & Hawkes Inc.

  • 4(2pic)042+2cbn/4040/hp.pf/str (16.16.12.12.8)
  • soprano
  • 54 min
    • 23rd May 2025, Kreuzkirche, Dresden, Germany
    View all

Programme Note

Texts: I. anon., mid-15C 'Holy Cross Lament', verse 4; II. Helena Wanda Blanzusiakówna, Graffito, 9/25/1944; III: anon. Opole folksong, c. 1919-21

Media

Symphony No.3 "Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs": 1. Lento (Sostenuto tranquillo ma cantabile)
Symphony No.3 "Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs": 2. Lento e largo
Symphony No.3 "Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs": 3. Lento (Cantabile semplice)

Reviews

Henryk Górecki’s Third Symphony, known as the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, is that rarest of phenomena, an unashamedly classical work that connects with people way beyond the concert hall.

Clive Paget, The Guardian
23rd April 2023

What is it, after all, but a big musical equivalent of the traditional two-minute silence? For an hour the frenzied world is stilled. As the solo soprano and string-dominated orchestra slowly circle round gestures and melodies like planes forever waiting to land, we move into contemplation mode, think our thoughts and emerge humbled, grateful and renewed.

Geoff Brown, The Times
15th November 2018
Atherton, an early champion of the work, sculpted its long contrapuntal lines with due care for the subtle instrumentation (string dominated, but with other instruments secreted within) and the emotional weight of the simplest chord change ... a moving performance, and a still powerful work.
Geoff Brown, The Times
26th August 2005
Górecki's symphony presents an immense challenge for the performers, with its endlessly repeated chords and simple modal melodies, but it is far from abstract. It consists of a setting of two lamenting prayers, and a folk song about a mother grieving for her lost son that is unbearably poignant just to read on the page.

Górecki brilliantly places the first text as an interruption of a vast slow fugue, which rises from the depths of the strings and sinks back again in a perfect mirror of itself.

The two vocal movements were better paced, and sung with great poignancy by Yvonne Kenny. Górecki's symphony revealed to be no passing fad, but a remarkable and deeply moving piece.
Ivan Hewett, Daily Telegraph
29th June 2004

Discography

Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3

Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3
  • Label
    Domino
  • Catalogue Number
    WIGLP395X
  • Conductor
    Krzysztof Penderecki
  • Ensemble
    Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Beth Gibbons, soprano
  • Released
    29th March 2019

Górecki: Symphony No. 3

Górecki: Symphony No. 3
  • Label
    Decca
  • Catalogue Number
    478 7433 DTC
  • Conductor
    Kazimierz Kord
  • Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Joanna Kozłowska
  • Released
    2014

Górecki: Symphony No. 3

Górecki: Symphony No. 3
  • Label
    TRIN
  • Catalogue Number
    TRP084
  • Conductor
    Yuri Simonov
  • Ensemble
    Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Susan Gritton, soprano
  • Released
    2012

Górecki: Symphonie No. 3

Górecki: Symphonie No. 3
  • Label
    Naïve
  • Catalogue Number
    SACD V5019
  • Conductor
    Alain Altinoglu
  • Ensemble
    Sinfonia Varsovia
  • Soloist
    Ingrid Perruche, soprano
  • Released
    2005

Górecki: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

Górecki: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs
  • Label
    ABC Classics
  • Catalogue Number
    472 040-2
  • Conductor
    Takuo Yuasa
  • Ensemble
    Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Yvonne Kenny, soprano
  • Released
    2001

Górecki: Symphony No. 3

Górecki: Symphony No. 3
  • Label
    Philips Classics
  • Catalogue Number
    442 411-2PM
  • Conductor
    Kazimierz Kord
  • Ensemble
    Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Joanna Kozlowska, soprano
  • Released
    1994

Górecki: Symphony No. 3

Górecki: Symphony No. 3
  • Label
    Olympia
  • Catalogue Number
    OCD 313
  • Conductor
    Karol Teutsch
  • Ensemble
    Warsaw National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Stefania Woytowicz, soprano
  • Released
    12th March 1993
Title Unavailable
  • Label
    NAXOS
  • Catalogue Number
    8 550822
  • Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  • Ensemble
    Katowice Radio Symphony Orchestra
Title Unavailable
  • Label
    NONE
  • Catalogue Number
    7559-79282-2
  • Conductor
    David Zinman
  • Ensemble
    London Sinfonietta
  • Soloist
    D. Upshaw, soprano
Title Unavailable
  • Label
    BELA
  • Catalogue Number
    450 148-2
  • Conductor
    J. Swoboda
  • Ensemble
    Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Z. Kilanowicz, soprano

More Info

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