• Tracks

East meets West, as two great singing traditions are brought together to thrilling effect. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the three Baltic states have emerged as powerhouses of choral innovation and imagination. The National Youth Choir of Great Britain bring all their customary fervour and virtuosity to bear on this programme of recent works from three of Europe's smallest, yet musically richest, countries. Peteris Plakidis's 'symphony for choir' Nolemtiba (Destiny) and Galina Grigorjeva's Svjatki (Holy Days), a Russian-style choir concerto, are supplemented by shorter pieces by Vaclovas Augustinas and Mindaugas Urbaitis, and by a specially commissioned work by English choral composer and Baltic specialist Gabriel Jackson, who also contributes the informative booklet essay.