Voices of Connection: 08/05 Famed Swedish Choir

ILDEBRANDO PIZZETTI Due Composizioni Corali - Eric Ericson Chamber Choir & Swedish Radio Choir

Pizzetti (1880-1968) was a contemporary of Respighi, and, like his colleague, a conservative rather than trail-blazing composer. For example, his inspiration for these two choral pieces came from the Italian madrigals of the Renaissance. The texts were Italian translations of bucolic poems by Sappho (“The garden of Venus” and “The full moon was rising.”) Written in 1961, these were among the last pieces Pizzetti composed. I find them very beautiful, quite interesting. Eric Ericson was the most famous Swedish choral conductor of the 20th century. His professional Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and, particularly, his Swedish Radio Choir achieved legendary status. The singers have big, solid voices capable of enormous dynamic range.

– Dennis Keene

---