In the beginning of April, Harmonia Mundi released Arvo Pärt’s authorial CD Creator Spiritus. Music is performed by longtime interpreter of Pärt’s music, Paul Hillier, with his vocal ensembles Theatre of Voices and Ars Nova Copenhagen, organist Christopher Bowers-Broadbent and Estonian collective NYYD Quartet: Harry Traksmann (violin), Juta Õunapuu (violin), Torsten Tiebout (viola, Finland) and Leho Karin (cello).
CD consists of 10 instrumental and choral pieces from different periods of Pärt’s creative life:
Veni creator for mixed choir and organ (2006)
The Deer’s Cry for mixed choir (2007)
Psalom for string quartet (1985/1991/1993)
Most Holy Mother of God for vocal ensemble (2003)
Solfeggio for string quartet (1963/2008)
Peace upon You, Jerusalem for female choir (2002)
Ein Wallfahrtslied for tenor or baritone and string quartet (1984)
Morning Star for mixed choir (2007)
Stabat Mater for vocal ensemble and string trio (1985)
John Miller says on the website The Super Audio CD: The NYYD string players play with golden tone and are clearly in tune with Pärt's idiom, whether playing their string quartet pieces or accompanying choral works. With Hillier's authoritative guidance, the choirs produce excellent interpretations. This is especially true in the culminating 'Stabat Mater' with three soloists and NYYD Quartet, certainly one of Pärt's most searching pieces. /---/ Harmonia Mundi's DSD recording, bathed in the ample glow of a Copenhagen church, is flawless. In multichannel, the producers have subtly exploited spatial relationships between voices, choirs and instrumentalists to ravishing effect.
Matthias Lange have written also an approving review in the web magazine klassik.com.