World Premiere Recording of a Major Work by Sir John Tavener

RR-102CD Cover
TAVENER: IKON of EROS
for Violin, Chorus and Orchestra
plus
an exclusive 10-miniute interview with Sir John Tavener himself, discussing the Ikon of Eros

Jorja Fleezanis, violin - Patricia Rosario, soprano
Tim Krol, baritone
Minnesota Orchestra, Paul Goodwin, conductor

Recorded: April 2-3, 2003 at Cathedral of Saint Paul, Minnesota

RR-102CD
[HDCD]

Tavener's dedication: “To the Blessed Country of Greece, who through her landscape and her Holy Orthodox Faith has shown me something of the Divine Eros.”

One of today's most celebrated composers, Sir John Tavener has earned a huge following worldwide for the combination of spiritual mysticism, reverent yearning and passion that suffuses all of his music.   This work, originated as a commission for Jorja Fleezanis, concertmistress of the Minnesota Orchestra, on the occasion of the orchestra's Centennial, is scored for five groups of performers: solo violin, solo soprano, and dholak (a doubleheaded cylindrical drum); Greek psaltist (or cantor), mixed chorus, and very large Tibetan temple bowl and very large tamtam; two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, small Tibetan temple bowl, very large tamtam, and dholak; four horns, four trumpets, three tenor trombones and bass trombone, large Tibetan temple bowl, and very large tamtam; medium Tibetan temple bowl, very large tamtam, dholak, and strings. Ikon of Eros expresses a moving interplay between the forces of the orchestra, depicting aspects of the Divine Spirit, and the violin, representing the “Divine Eros” - “our longing for God and His longing for us.”   The music speaks deeply to a universal longing for love, peace, transcendence that unite all faiths. Prof. Johnson's recording amazingly captures the enveloping sound of the massed orchestra, choir and soloists in magnificent acoustics of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, MN, creating a transcendent musical and audio experience.


Related back catalog on Reference Recordings
featuring Eiji Oue & the Minnesota Orchestra

RR-100 - von Stade sings Argento
RR-99 - Reveries: Various Composers
RR-96 - Rachmaninoff
RR-95 - Respighi
RR-93 - Copland 100
RR-92 - Bolero!
RR-91 - Valentino Dances
RR-88 - Mahler - Das Lied
RR-87 - Bernstein
RR-83 - Richard Strauss
RR-82 - Mephisto & Co.
RR-80 - Ports of Call
RR-79 - Pictures at an Exhibition
RR-71 - Exotic Dances
RR-70 - Stravinsky

PROGRAM LISTING

SIR JOHN TAVENER

IKON OF EROS
1   17:26
2     7:48
3   15:53
4   19:50

5   Sir John Tavener in interview with Brian Newhouse. 10:45
     courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio

      Total Time: 72:03



Reference Recordings are distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading