![Osmo Vänskä|Paulus, S.: To Be Certain of the Dawn [Oratorio]](https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/5b/8l/j5ae2cvw48l5b_600.jpg "Osmo Vänskä|Paulus, S.: To Be Certain of the Dawn [Oratorio]")
Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
American composer Stephen Paulus wrote his oratorio To Be Certain of the Dawn on commission from Minneapolis' Basilica of Saint Mary as a gift to Temple Israel Synagogue, so it's appropriate that the first of the three sections of the libretto by Michael Dennis Browne deals with Christian repentance for the church's role in the Holocaust. The second section focuses on the experience of Jews during the Holocaust, and the third on the present time and the vision of true reconciliation and cooperation between people of all faiths. It's not surprising that Paulus, whose extensive catalog of sacred music has fallen largely within the Christian tradition, is moved to produce his most profound and heartfelt music in the first and last sections. The dilemma of any composer (or any artist) trying to depict the Holocaust is that the unimaginable extent of its tragedy tends to render inadequate most attempts to give expression to it, and this is true of Paulus' music, which is warmly lyrical and post-Romantic in its idiom and seems pale in its depiction of the immense suffering described. The first and last sections, though, trigger an intensity and authenticity in his response that give the music real power. The hour-long work receives a fine performance from the Minnesota Orchestra, led by Osmo Vänskä, along with Minnesota Chorale, Minnesota Boychoir, the Basilica Cathedral Choir, and the Cathedral Choristers. Among the soloists, cantor Barry Abelson and soprano Elizabeth Futral are standouts. BIS' sound is adequate, but somewhat remote. Although the oratorio may not fully realize its creators' ambitious intent, it remains a moving and earnest work that should reward fans of new lyrical choral literature.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $16.65/month
To Be Certain of the Dawn (Stephen Paulus)
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Osmo Vänskä, Conductor, MainArtist - Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Stephen Paulus, Composer - Philip Cokorinos, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Futral, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dennis Browne, Lyricist - John Tessier, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Chorale, Choir, MainArtist - Christina Baldwin, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Minnesota Boychoir, Choir, MainArtist - Basilica Cathedral Choir, Choir, MainArtist - Cathedral Choristers, Choir, MainArtist - Barry Abelson, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2009 BIS 2009 (P) BIS
Album review
American composer Stephen Paulus wrote his oratorio To Be Certain of the Dawn on commission from Minneapolis' Basilica of Saint Mary as a gift to Temple Israel Synagogue, so it's appropriate that the first of the three sections of the libretto by Michael Dennis Browne deals with Christian repentance for the church's role in the Holocaust. The second section focuses on the experience of Jews during the Holocaust, and the third on the present time and the vision of true reconciliation and cooperation between people of all faiths. It's not surprising that Paulus, whose extensive catalog of sacred music has fallen largely within the Christian tradition, is moved to produce his most profound and heartfelt music in the first and last sections. The dilemma of any composer (or any artist) trying to depict the Holocaust is that the unimaginable extent of its tragedy tends to render inadequate most attempts to give expression to it, and this is true of Paulus' music, which is warmly lyrical and post-Romantic in its idiom and seems pale in its depiction of the immense suffering described. The first and last sections, though, trigger an intensity and authenticity in his response that give the music real power. The hour-long work receives a fine performance from the Minnesota Orchestra, led by Osmo Vänskä, along with Minnesota Chorale, Minnesota Boychoir, the Basilica Cathedral Choir, and the Cathedral Choristers. Among the soloists, cantor Barry Abelson and soprano Elizabeth Futral are standouts. BIS' sound is adequate, but somewhat remote. Although the oratorio may not fully realize its creators' ambitious intent, it remains a moving and earnest work that should reward fans of new lyrical choral literature.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:03
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Osmo Vänskä
- Composer: Stephen Paulus
- Label: BIS
- Genre: Classical Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred)
2009 BIS 2009 BIS
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
