TRADITIONAL
A New Joy: Orthodox Christmas Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier [ Harnmonia Mundi / CD - released 12/Dec/2011 ] This CD, which includes several first recordings of music by Kastalski, Izvekov & others, draws upon the rich treasury of 19th- & 20th-century liturgical hymnography and carols of the Nativity Feast, which were suppressed during the tragic events of... |
ORTHODOX CHANT
Orthodox Chant: Orthodox Music of the 17th & 18th Centuries Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / CD - released 10/Apr/2008 ] "The choir...sing with exceptional blend and purity of tone" (The Absolute Sound) |
LEPO SUMERA
Mushroom Cantata & other choral works Raivo E. Tamm (actor) alle Kaljuste (actor) Janika Lentsius (flute) Madis Metsamart (percussion) / Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/ Tnu Kaljust [ BIS / CD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] "If being haunted by a recording is a definition of greatness, then this is a strong candidate. Have you found that you are obliged to return to a CD to find out if the dreams it has created in your mind are a reality, or just something from your own... |
MAX REGER / RUDOLF TOBIAS
Choral Works Ene Salumäe (organ) & Siim Selis (piano) / Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Daniel Reuss [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Oct/2013 ] "Stylistically, [Tobias] is a sort of Baltic Bairstow...transcendental without being revolutionary, intimate, not vain, and highly responsive to text and atmosphere. Reger, by contrast, favours more luxuriant textures...the Estonian choristers relish |
MENDELSSOHN / CYRILLUS KREEK
Psalms Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Daniel Reuss [ Ondine / CD - released 2/Nov/2012 ] "Reuss draws impassioned and mellifluous performances from his Grammy Award-winning choir of 24 voices. Its beautifully blended, creamy tone (especially in the altos) and clarion-like tenors are underpinned by warm basses." (Gramophone) |
FRANZ LISZT / ARVO PART
Liszt: Via Crucis / Pärt: Sacred Choral Works Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Kalle Randalu (piano), Kaspars Putnins (conductor) [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Sep/2019 ] This release by the award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under the direction of its artistic director and chief conductor Kaspars Putniņš includes Franz Liszt's (1881-1886) mystery-filled religious vocal work Via Crucis as well as four... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Kaspars Putniņš [ BIS SACD / CD - released 25/Feb/2022 ] The music of the Russian Orthodox Church was an essential part of Sergei Rachmaninov's musical background. As a boy he was deeply moved by the sound of St Petersburg's cathedral choirs, and phrases reminiscent of liturgical chant permeate his music.... |
ALFRED SCHNITTKE / ARVO PART
Schnittke / Pärt: Choral Works Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Kaspars Putniņš [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 15/Dec/2017 ] "This work has been waiting for choirs able to do this, because the technical challenges are not the most important thing about this music" Gramophone Award WINNER 2018 - Choral |
ALFRED SCHNITTKE / ARVO PART
Schnittke, Pärt - Choral Works 2 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Kaspars Putniņš, conductor [ BIS SACD / CD - released 4/Jun/2021 ] "The music of Pärt is stitched into the choir's DNA...The Niguliste's acoustic is Putniņš's trump card, further nourishing the choir's enveloping sonorousness - which he expertly contours to explore Schnittke's subtlety and ear for choral colour" BBC |
BERGMAN / KREEK / SIBELIUS / TORMIS
Baltic Runes Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 20/May/2010 ] "The most striking piece is Erik Bergman's "Lapponia", in which the use of wordless phonemes is aptly elemental, with deep lowing beneath scattered snow showers of excited syllables, and a breeze of haunting sussurus which recalls Ligeti." The... |
KREEK / PART / RAUTAVAARA / SANDSTROM / TORMIS / VASKS
Baltic Voices Vol 1 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi SACD / SACD - released 1/Oct/2003 ] "pure and impassioned, astounding choral artists." (The Wall Street Journal) - On Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) format, presented in full 5.1 surround sound! PLAYABLE ON ANY CD SYSTEM |
GORECKI / MAZULIS / SAARIAHO / AUGUSTINAS / GUDMUNDSEN-HOLMGREEN / etc
Baltic Voices Vol 3 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi SACD / SACD - released 1/Dec/2005 ] "Once again Paul Hillier and his Estonian choir provide a varied programme of new choral works by Baltic composers. Despite a wide gamut of styles, each composition has an immediacy that is not always found in contemporary music." Erik Levi - BBC... |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Vespers & Complete All-Night Vigil Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Oct/2022 ] "...from the first notes of this performance by the superb Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir we appreciate the difference between Western and Slavic sound, as a super-deep and resonant bass voice intones the Deacon's gathering words: "Arise! Bless... |
MACHAUT / O'REGAN / DUFAY / BRYARS
Scattered Rhymes Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier (director), Orlando Consort [ Harmonia Mundi / SACD - released 23/Jun/2008 ] "This collection has actually been programmed with considerable care...with the acoustic of the recording venue effectively becoming an additional element in the performance." (Choral & Song Recording of the Month BBC Music June 2008) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The Powers of Heaven: Orthodox Music of the 17th & 18th Centuries The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Paul Hillier [ Harmonia Mundi SACD / SACD - released 23/May/2004 ] On Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) format, presented in full 5.1 surround sound! PLAYABLE ON ANY CD SYSTEM - "The choir...sing with exceptional blend and purity of tone" (The Absolute Sound) |
ERKKI-SVEN TUUR
Tuur: Awakening (Arkamine) Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Sinfonietta Riga, Daniel Reuss [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Feb/2012 ] |
TONU KORVITS
Kõrvits: Moorland Elegies Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestr, Risto Joost [ Ondine / CD - released 15/May/2017 ] Ondine continues its series of works by Baltic composers with a new exciting release. This disc features Moorland Elegies, a 50-minute work for mixed choir and string orchestra by Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits (b. 1969). The work is being performed... |
ULO KRIGUL
Ülo Krigul: liquid turns Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra Kaspars Putniņš (conductor) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 5/Aug/2022 ] Ülo Krigul studied in Tallinn and Vienna, and has written music in a wide variety of genres. |
TONU KORVITS
Korvits: Sei la luce e il mattino (You are Light and Morning) Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Risto Joost [ Ondine / CD - released 6/Nov/2020 ] "The poetry of the 20th-century Italian writer Cesare Pavese is brought to life by Kõrvits in lyrical, meditative music, wherein elements of nature: wind, fire, water, earth are equated to aspects of the human condition: longing, regret, loneliness." |
TONU KORVITS
Korvits: The Sound of Wings Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Risto Joost [ Ondine / CD - released 2/Jun/2023 ] Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits (b. 1969) belongs to his country's most prominent composers. His works are rich with delicate atmosphere possessing a particularly Northern feel combined with a romantic and Impressionistic touch. |