• 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
    • 22nd August 2025, Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom
    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

More Info

  • Wise Music at the BBC Proms
    • Wise Music at the BBC Proms
    • 24th April 2025
    • The BBC have announced the programme for the 2025 Proms season featuring several works by Wise Music Group composers.