Liszt/ R Leeuw / Netherlands Chamber Choir - Liszt: Via Circus

The mood of the Via Crucis is entirely devotional and it is designed to accompany the lengthy Lenten penitential rite in the setting of a church. The text for this work was prepared by Liszt's lady friend, the Princess Sayn-Wittgenstein, from various sources including German chorales, extracts from the Bible and Latin chants. It dates from 1878-9 and the composer also arranged the work for piano (for both two hands and four hands). Reinbert de Leeuw is well known as a pianist and conductor of contemporary music. Via Crucis is one of Reinbert's favorite pieces. Reinbert de Leeuw's conception with the Netherlands Chamber Choir is intense. The entrance of the Lutheran hymn Ein' feste Burg in the sixth station came as something of a surprise, but of course it was originally taken from a plainsong melody. Snatches from the Dies irae and other chants heighten the sombre associations of the Via crucis. Originally released in 2006 on Philips.