From Captivity to the Holy City
Opus 7, directed by Loren Pontén
Recorded in the beautiful acoustics of St. James Cathedral in
Seattle, Washington, this CD features texts for the Lenten and Easter seasons,
describing the human experience as it moves from darkness to light, from
enslavement to liberation, and from suffering to joy. Included are works by
Gibbons, Parry, Ives, Stanford, Finzi, and the first recording of John
Muehleisen’s
De profundis.
This
recording is now available as a download here.
Chichester Mass—William Albright (1944-1998)
De profundis—John Muehleisen (b.1955)
“Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land” from Judith —C. Hubert H. Parry
(1848-1918)
Drop, drop slow tears—Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Crux fidelis—Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci (b.1918)
“Fac me tecum” from Stabat Mater—Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
“Never weather-beaten saile” from Songs of Farewell—Parry
67th Psalm—Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Veni, creator spiritus—Adam Rener (1485-1520)
And I saw a new heaven—Edgar Bainton (1880-1956)
Coelos ascendit hodie—Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
God is gone up—Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
Hark, I hear the harps eternal—Alice Parker (b.1925)
Standard works by Parry, Gibbons, Ives, Bainton, Stanford, and Finzi are all beautifully performed by this fine vocal group Opus 7, which is the professional ensemble resident at St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral in Seattle. They sing with especially clean tone and sensitive phrasing. The engineering by Bill Levey and Sarah Holberg is exemplary. The liner includes notes, texts, and biographies.
—Victor Hill, The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians (September 2003)
"Opus 7 - Seattle's finest vocal ensemble"
—Bruce Reid
"They manage everything from earthy choral roars to icy, transparent purity. Needlepoint intonation and unearthly ensemble top the high heap of the choral strengths."
—Lindsay Koob, American Record Guide, January/February 2005
"this radiant vocal ensemble"..."this resplendent vocal ensemble"
"(And for those keeping track, thanks to the readers who e-mailed me adjectives for this group last December. I'm saving them for warmer weather.)"
—Christopher DeLaurenti
"The group sings beautifully to a member, no matter what is set before them"
—The Stranger Guide to Seattle
"Opus 7 is one of the reasons some might say Seattle is in a golden age of choral singing"
—R.M.Campbell, Seattle P-I
