Hawes: Lazarus Requiem

Patrick Hawes returns to disc on Signum with the premiere recording of his Lazarus Requiem, for Choir, Orchestra and Soloists. Blending the liturgical text of the Requiem Mass with the story of Lazarus from the New Testament, the composer creates a work in which 'the mystery of life and death, the pain of grief and the hope of a risen life are held in taut symmetry'.

The work begins with an orchestral Elegy for Lazarus. This depicts the dying man and sets the scene for the first tableau where we are informed 'a certain man was ill'. Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, send for Jesus and the drama of the miracle unfolds.

SIGCD282 59 minutes 43 seconds

'The Exeter Philharmonic Choir is equally committed, well supported by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In sum, an unusual and heartfelt addition to the catalogue and a work that could well earn ...
'Patrick Hawes presents his most ambitious work to date here, in partnership with his brother Andrew who conceived the text for the project. With collaborators including tenor Thomas Walker, sopranos ...