You probably know Beth Gibbons as the singer, lyricist, and soul of the English trip-hop trio Portishead. She later released an album with Talk Talk’s bassist Paul Webb a.k.a. Rustin Man as well. All of that is outstanding, highly original, and always moving music.

But did you know that she also recorded “Symphony No. 3” by Polish composer Henryk Górecki? Well, I sure didn’t, but she did, together with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, a famous composer in his own right from the European country.

The live recordings were filmed, parts are on YouTube, and I urge you to watch and listen. Words fail to describe this miracle.

https://yt.artemislena.eu/watch?v=zrYxBNziy24&local=true
https://yt.artemislena.eu/watch?v=-YlGYxCSDJU&local=true

As a bonus track, why don’t you listen to Beth Gibbon and Rustin Man’s performance of their album “Out of Season” at Swiss Paléo Festival in 2003, with a complete band setup full of sonic suprises; violin, melodica, pump organ, accordion, to mention a few.

https://yt.artemislena.eu/watch?v=LyHX6eY9E2E&local=true

Further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Gibbons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henryk_G%C3%B3recki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._3_(G%C3%B3recki)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Penderecki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Webb

#Music #BethGibbons #ContemporaryClassic #Minimalism #NeoRomanticism #SpiritualMinimalism #SacredMinimalism #Polish #RustinMan #Portishead