American-born composer, Nicolas
Kaviani www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6021
has been actively composing chamber, orchestral and choral music since the age
of 13. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the
University of California at Santa Cruz in 2000, studying under the composer
David Cope. He then went on to earn his grade de master in composition from the
prestigious Conservatoire de Musique Olivier Messiaen in Avignon, France. There
he was invited to attend master classes with some of the most prominent
composers in France including, on one occasion, Pierre Boulez.
In September of 2014,
Kaviani recorded his Te Deum with the
Moravian Philharmonic www.mfo.cz and the Janacek Opera Choir conducted by
Petr Vronský www.samonpromotion.com/en/artist/detail.php?i=139 in
Olomouc, Czech Republic. This recording is coupled with his Tous les matins du monde for 16 unaccompanied
voices performed by the Prague Mixed Chamber Choir directed by Jiří Petrdlík www.jiripetrdlik.cz has recently been released by
Navona Records www.navonarecords.com
. These recordings are issued with a DVD
documentary on the making-of the album entitled The making of a World Premiere.
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| NV 6021 |
Petr Vronský and the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and Janáček
Opera Choir are joined by soloists, soprano Martina Králíková, alto Barbora
Polášková, tenor Juraj Nociar, baritone Jiří Pribyl and organist Karel Martínek
for the Te Deum (2005) for
orchestra, choir and soloists. Lasting around twenty five minutes the Te Deum builds from a quiet orchestral
opening to a strong dynamic entry for choir. Kaviani finds a strength and
directness in his setting and, when alto Barbora Polášková enters immediately
joined by soprano Martina Králíková they achieve a terrific blend. The choir
takes the music forward vibrantly, surely influenced by Bach in this wholly
approachable, yet very fine work. Brass add occasional dissonances as do
woodwind as a quieter, gentler section arrives. The soprano returns in a
particularly lovely section before the choir and orchestra rise through some grand
passages to a height of exultation. The music suddenly drops as choir and
orchestra bring a more thoughtful section featuring lower male voices leading into
an orchestral passage that weaves some quite lovely sounds.
When baritone Jiří Pribyl enters he reveals a particularly
fine voice to which tenor Juraj Nociar adds a lovely sonority in this rather
exceptional passage, quite beautiful. They rise in drama a little before the
baritone leads with his exceptionally fine voice, tenor and baritone blending
so well. Female voices of the choir join gently over the orchestra before
rising themselves only for the orchestra to hold back. The choir and orchestra
rise again, then fall, creating a wonderful atmosphere of surging tension. Cymbal
clashes are heard as the choir and orchestra rise to the heights.
Later there is a very fine fugal section for choir and
orchestra before the music rises through dramatic passages to a peak of drama.
The unaccompanied female voices enter to which brass add a counterpoint. When
the male voices join, the tension is ratcheted up again with the solo soprano
heard above all the solos voices who join the choir and orchestra to add to the
drama. A flute introduces a calmer section for the choir as they weave a lovely
line with the orchestra. The organ enters to accompany the orchestra in a
sonorous passage with the choir finding a gentler strength before building,
slackening through a lovely passage, only to subtly and slowly rise to an exultant
coda pointed up by timpani.
This is a work that builds on tradition to find a strength
and individual power of its own. Both choir, orchestra and soloists make a
terrific show in this rather demanding work where there is little let up for
the choir.
The recording made at the Reduta Hall, Olomouc, Czech
Republic in September 2014 brings much presence. The organ part was recorded at
St. Moritz Church, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Kaviani brings some impressive, dissonant choral lines to
challenge any choir in Tous les matins
du monde (2014) (All the mornings of
the world) for 16 unaccompanied voices. Here with the voices of the Prague
Mixed Chamber Choir under their director Jiří Petrdlík
respond magnificently in this very fine setting. This is a work with superbly
written choral lines, achieving some stunning vocal effects, this choir drawing
many beauties from this short but challenging work.
The recording made at Martin Hall, Prague Academy of
Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic in 2014 is excellent.
The accompanying DVD documentary The making of a World Premiere moves from discussions between
conductor and composer over the score of the Te Deum, through rehearsals and the problems of recording time and
technical difficulties to the rehearsal of organ part and rehearsals for Tous les matins du monde.
The narration is in French with English subtitles but the
main dialogue in in English.
The double CD case contains the English text of Tous
les matins du monde and the composer’s view of the Te Deum but no other notes.
We really do need to hear more of this composer’s music in
both concerts and recordings. Lovers of fine choral music should hear this
disc.
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