Album

The three pieces by Osvaldo Golijov recorded here offer more evidence that his is one of the freest and most compelling voices on the scene. Although he came to the attention of the broader public in 2000 with the bold stylistic juxtapositions of La Pasión según San Marco, Oceana, written in 1996, incorporates a comparable diversity of elements. Perhaps even more than La Pasión, Oceana mingles its various idioms into an integrated aesthetic vision. What stands out is Golijov's fearless rejection of the orthodoxies of modernism, postmodernism, minimalism, and every other -ism that limits the definition of an acceptable aesthetic. Oceana is a large-scale cantata for which the unique sound of Brazilian singer Luciana Souza provided inspiration, and her voice is a unifying thread that runs through it. It's evocative of oceanic vastness without being imitative, and its moments of grand emotion are passionate, even spiritual; the fact that the ecstatic choral exclamations, "Oceana!" are easily mistaken for "Hosanna!" cannot have been coincidental. Souza's voice is absolutely astounding in its tonal coloring and expressive range. Robert Spano leads the Gwinnett Young Singers and the Atlanta Symphony & Chorus in a radiant performance.

Tenebrae is a two-movement reflection written for the Kronos Quartet, inspired by Couperin's setting of the "Lamentations of Jeremiah" for the Tenebrae service of Holy Week. Golijov writes that his challenge "was to sound like an orbiting spaceship that never touches ground." The work succeeds in hinting at a hovering sadness that is too profound and private to be overtly expressed. Three Songs uses texts in Yiddish, Spanish, and (American) English, reflecting the various personal and musical influences that have contributed to the composer's style. Golijov writes to the strengths of Dawn Upshaw's voice, and she sings with gorgeous tone and profound insight. The diversity of the selections and the superb performances make this album a terrific introduction to the range of Golijov's gift and vision.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Osvaldo Golijov Composer Oceana, for voice, boys' choir, double chorus & orchestra Work Recorded 2004 26:08 John Dearman Guitar, Luciana Souza Voice, Gwinnett Young Singers Chorus/Choir, Jay Anderson Bass, Atlanta Symphony Chorus Chorus/Choir, Jamey Haddad Percussion, Elizabeth Remy Johnson Harp, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Robert Spano Conductor, Scott Tennant Guitar
1	1.Call	3:30			$0.99
2	2.First Wave: Oceana nupcial, cadera de las islas, Rain Train Interlude	1:38			$0.49
3	3.Second Wave: Quiero oír lo invisible	2:40			$0.99
4	4.Second Call	2:09			$0.99
5	5.Third Wave: Oceana, reclina tu noche en el castillo	2:11			$0.99
6	6.Aria: Tengo hambre de no ser sino piedra marina	5:30			$0.99
7	7.Chorale of the Reef: Oceana, dame las conchas del arrecife	8:30			$1.49
Osvaldo Golijov Composer Tenebrae, for string quartet Work Recorded 2006 12:56 Kronos Quartet String Quartet
8	1.Movement 1	6:10			$0.99
9	2.Movement 2	6:46			$0.99
Osvaldo Golijov Composer Three Songs, for voice & orchestra Work Recorded 2005 21:30 Dawn Upshaw Soprano, Robert Spano Conductor, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
10	1.Night of the Flying Horses: Close Your Eyes - Doina - Gallop	7:24			$1.49
11	2.Lúa descolorida	6:04			$0.99
12	3.How Slow the Wind	8:02			$1.49