- 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
- Helena Wanda Blanzusiakówna III
- Polish
- 22nd August 2025, Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom
Programme Note
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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.
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.
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.
Discography
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- 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.