Naxos 'Lament for Jerusalem' recording
March 2006 saw the release on the Naxos label of the Choir of London’s first commercially-available disc, a recording of Sir John Tavener’s Lament for Jerusalem. This major work for soloists, choir and orchestra was specially arranged by the composer in a ‘Jerusalem’ version for performance as part of the Choir of London’s December 2004 Palestine/Israel project.
The Lament is an intensely powerful setting of Christian, Judaic and Islamic texts: a love-song for Jerusalem in which elements of all three traditions participate. It was therefore an ideal choice for performance as part of the Choir’s first international project – a visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank which sought to engage with performers of all backgrounds and faiths.
This premiere recording of the Jerusalem version of the ‘Lament’ features soloists Angharad Gruffydd Jones (soprano) and Peter Crawford (counter-tenor), and is directed by guest conductor Jeremy Summerly.
March 2005