Gramophone Magazine has named albums of Eriks Esenvalds music for consecutive Choral Album of the Month awards. The rare honour is the result of 2 performances from choirs on the west coast of the USA.
There Will Come Soft Rains, performed by Pacific Lutheran University Choir of the West under the direction of Richard Nance is on the Signum label.
Translations, performed by Portland State Chamber Choir under the direction of Ethan Sperry is on the Naxos label.
Translations, the new Ešenvalds album by Portland State Chamber Choir and Ethan Sperry has been released on the Naxos label and is available for purchase, download, and streaming now. The album is the sequel to The Doors of Heaven (Naxos 2017) and features seven works, including the world premiere recording of Translation (2016) on a text by Oregon’s poet laureate Paulann Petersen.
The album explores the idea of ‘translation’ or the transformations that occur within us when we encounter the power of nature, legends, or the divine. PSCC conductor Ethan Sperry: ‘Each piece of Ešenvalds’ music addresses our essential nature — from the frustrations at our limitations to our desire to touch the divine — and translates this into musical language that moves us to our very core, deepening our understanding of what it means to be human.’
Listen to previews and order, download, or stream Translations.
Watch a release video on YouTube here.
Tracklist:
1. O salutaris hostia
2. The Heavens’ Flock
3. Translation
4. My Thoughts / Мысли мои
5. Vineta
6. The Legend of the Walled-In Woman
7. In paradisum
Translations was recorded in 2019 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Mount Angel, Oregon, with producer Erick Lichte, and engineers John Atkinson and Doug Tourtelot.