For this Delos CD, Hear My Prayer, we were incredibly privileged to work with one of the great lyric sopranos of our time, Hei-Kyung Hong. Of course, we made this recording in the Church of the Ascension, with its exceptional acoustics. I will never forget recording this particular piece. To hear one of the world’s greatest, most beautiful voices in that space was overwhelming. But it wasn’t just the voice. It was the combination of such vocal splendor combined with an equal amount of artistry and expression – something only found in a few singers in each generation. This famous aria was long attributed to Alessandro Stradella, but now is usually considered the work of Swiss 19th century composer Louis Niedermeyer. Haunting and impassioned, this work has been in the repertoire of many of the great opera singers.

– Dennis Keene

STRADELLA/NIEDERMEYER Pietà, Signore

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Hei-Kyung Hong, Soprano
Mark Kruczek, Organ

from the Delos recording Hear My Prayer ℗ 2004 Delos
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.