CD from Poland’s National Forum of Music Choir wins French award

A CD entitled Dance of Death, recorded by the Choir of the National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław, south-western Poland, has received the Diapason d'Or from the prestigious French magazine Diapason. The award is presented by the magazine’s reviewers for the most outstanding classical music recordings.

The NFM Choir’s Dance of Death CD has won France’s prestigious Diapason d’Or award.

Photo: NFM

The album explores the theme of the danse macabre and features works by German composers: Totentanz, Op. 12 No. 2 by Hugo Distler; Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen, Op. 74 No. 1 by Johannes Brahms; Sarabande from Partita in A minor for solo flute, BWV 1013 by Johann Sebastian Bach; and O Tod, wie bitter bist du, Op. 110 No. 3 by Max Reger.

The NFM Choir is led by Lionel Sow, a French choral conductor who has served as its artistic director since 2021. The performers also included Willard White (narrator) and Jan Krzeszowiec (flute).

In its citation for the award, Diapason wrote: “The Polish choir captivates from beginning to end with the authority it lends to these sometimes archaic texts, turning them into a lively, tender meditation. Such beauty in an a cappella performance that balances density and aesthetic brilliance!”

The award ceremony will take place during a gala concert featuring Diapason d'Or recipients at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on January 16.

(mk/mp)