Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 has been getting some notable love lately — and that’s saying something when you consider how appreciated the “sorrowful” piece generally is among composers, classical musicians, and maybe even the construction workers who secretly dabble in cynicism as they consciously build our futile symbols of humanity. Saxophonist Colin Stetson released his own rendition of the three-movement symphony a few years ago; and now, famed vocalist and songwriter, Beth Gibbons (whom, 11 years back, rejoined her Portishead cohorts for a Third and seemingly final album) is now putting to wax her own performance, recorded in 2014 at the National Opera Grand Theater in Warsaw, Poland.
Krzysztof Penderecki conducted the performance in-question, with Gibbons joining the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and director Michał Merczyński giving glorious sight to the sad sounds. Domino will be sponsoring the release of both audio and film of the gig on March 29.
As one might expect, Gibbons reportedly prepped intensely for the performance. See for yourself via the short trailer for the release down below — and, as soon as your eyes are dry again, head here to pre-order on vinyl and CD.
Henryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) tracklisting:
01. I. Lento—Sostenuto tranquillo ma cantabile
02. II. Lento e largo—Tranquillissimo
03. III. Lento—Cantabile-semplice
More about: Beth Gibbons, Henryk Górecki, Krzysztof Penderecki, Portishead
