LAURIDSEN:LUX AETERNA

This disc was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for "Best Choral Performance." In this collection of mostly sacred choral works, composer Morten Lauridsen shows himself to be well-versed in the great choral traditions both old and new. Echoes of Sergei Rachmaninov and John Rutter mingle with the lush, thorny-yet-accessible harmonies of early 20th-century American Romantics like Samuel Barber. 'Lux Aeterna' draws on Latin texts which refer to light (lux), bracketed by excerpts from the Requiem Mass: the familiar "Requiem aeternam" to begin and "Agnus Dei-Lux aeterna" to close. Aside from the textual references, the work recalls the Requiems of FaurT, DuruflT and Brahms in its rich choral textures which are supported but never overwhelmed by the orchestra. 'Les Chansons des Roses' and 'Mid-Winter Songs' bring similarly rewarding choral writing to secular texts, penned by Rainer Maria Rilke and Robert Graves respectively. Lauridsen's mastery of colorful scoring shines in his orchestral version of 'Mid-Winter Songs,' an evocative tapestry of sound. The Los Angeles Master Chorale sings throughout with obvious devotion to the works, bringing the music to life. Paul Salamunovich leads them with assurance, drawing first-class performances from his ensemble. This disc may be a bit off the beaten path, but it's a must for everyone with an interest in choral music.