Henryk Mikolaj Górecki

b. 1933

Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki Photo © Malcolm Crowthers

Snapshot

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Henryk Mikolaj Górecki made his reputation as a leader of Polish avant-garde in the late 1950s * Concentration since 1970s on monumental structures built from simple modal materials * Works are inspired by folk and religious influences * Emotional power and clarity of music has attracted a wide public following, boosted by record breaking sales of discs on the Nonesuch label * Much-loved choral works include Totus Tuus (1987) * Music is favoured by many distinguished choreographers * Works performed by world's leading orchestras, Kronos Quartet, London Sinfonietta, Schoenberg Ensemble, and soprano Dawn Upshaw

Works by Henryk Mikolaj Górecki include:
Old Polish Music (1967-69) for brass and strings
Already it is Dusk (1988) and Quasi una Fantasia (1991) and ...songs are sung (1995) for string quartet
Kleines Requiem für eine Polka (1993) for ensemble

Looking Ahead:
Christine Brewer sings Symphony No.3 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs' with the Atlanta Symphony and Donald Runnicles (8/9 May)

"Górecki is meticulous in even the tiniest of compositional details, and this rare and powerful sense of colour and timing places his music in a rather special category." — CD Review

Boosey & Hawkes

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Henryk Mikolaj Górecki

Snapshot