Songs of the Baltic Sea

Gramophone

February 2012

Heinz Valk called the 1989 liberation of the Baltic states from Soviet tyranny the Singing Revolution. Now, 20 or more years later, we to the West are able to reap the benefit from this rich living tradition of unaccompanied choral music, much of it folk-influenced, all of it firmly rooted in the centre of a sense of nationality.

This new collection of Cantus Maris Baltici - 'Songs of the Baltic Sea' - a project recorded in Oxford, Sussex and London, has the true ring of authenticity about it. Mike Brewer's intrepid young choristers are on glowingly excellent form throughout. Hats off to them for tackling such stimulating and little-known repertory with gusto and obvious enjoyment. 

The two heayweight pieces are the half hour, five-movement Symphony for Choir by the Latvian Peteris Plakidis and Galina Grigorjeva's Choir Concerto Svjatki. Both require heroic reserves of vocal energy. Stephanie Guidera is an outstanding soloist in the 'Guessing Song' movement of the Grigorjeva, imbuing her singing with a strong Slavonic flavour. Dominic Barberi is also excellent in Gabriel Jackson's crisp new piece.

However, it is one of the shorter pieces that stands out above all others, helped, perhaps, by the hand of the ailing Mozart. Lacrimosa by the Lithuanian Mindaugas Urbaitis weaves the surviving eight-bar fragment from the Requiem into a movement of rare beauty and deep intensity.

An outstanding disc which emphasises how fortunate the NYCGB is to have Brewer's drive and energy. Rejoice!

Malcolm Riley

 

Choir and Organ

Jan/Feb 2012

These are palpably young voices, but deliver weight and maturity throughout this excellent survey. They relish the ostinati of Vaclovas Augustinas's Tau Bet Kokios Sutemos Sviesios and Mindaugas Urbaitis's Lacrimosa, which both hint at 'Lithuanian minimalism'. Mike Brewer has a deft touch with musical space on the Lativian Peteris Plakidis's five-movement choral symphony and a choir concerto Svjatki by Galina Grigorjeva, a naturalised Estonian. Best of all is Gabriel Jackson's summative Cantus Maris Baltici (he also writes the excellent liner notes), a musical picture of the brackish Baltic and its fringe of tiny, east-facing nations.

Brian Morton

 

The Observer

18th December, 2011

The heartfelt singing tradition of the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia – has found new freedom since the end of the Soviet era. The virtuosic NYCGB and top choral trainer Mike Brewer revel in the rich cluster-harmonies and religious colours of native Baltic works alongsideCantus Maris Baltici by the UK's Gabriel Jackson. Essential for choral fans. 

Fiona Maddocks


The Lebrecht Report

11th December, 2011

Frost and reindeers come to mind in the opening choirds of this thrilling disc from the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (conductor Mike Brewer). The composers are Vaclovas Augustinas, Mindaugas Urbaitis, Peteris Plakidis, Galina Grigorjeva and Gabriel Jackson, and the singing - virile and angelic - will freeze your breath in mid-air. Perfect for this time of year.

Norman Lebrecht