ERIC WHITACRE

Five must-hear discs

Light and Gold

Grace Davidson, Stephen Kennedy, Hila Plitmann; Christopher Glynn (piano); The Eric Whitacre Singers, Laudibus, The King’s Singers, Pavão Quartet/eric Whitacre Decca 274 3209 Released in 2010, these are finely polished performances of some of Whitacre’s best known works, including the ultra-popular carol Lux Aurumque.

Water Night

The Eric Whitacre

Singers, London

Symphony Orchestra/

Eric Whitacre

Decca 279 6323

A fascinating, atmospheric album from 2012 that combines choral and orchestral works. Soloists include cellist Julian

Lloyd Webber and Whitacre’s wife, the soprano Hila Plitmann.

The Stolen Child etc

The King’s Singers, Concordia Choir/

René Clausen

Signum SIGCD262

Five Whitacre choral works are heard here alongside those by his contemporaries, ex-king’s Singer Bob Chilcott and the American Morten Lauridsen.

Cloudburst

Polyphony/stephen Layton Hyperion CDA67543 Recorded in 2006, Polyphony’s immaculate Whitacre disc brought the composer’s work to UK ears. The recording includes the album’s title work, composed when Whitacre was just 22.

Enjoy the Silence

Eric Whitacre Singers/

Eric Whitacre

Decca 481 0530 (download) Whitacre pays homage to his electronica pop heroes in this deft choral arrangement of Depeche Mode’s Brit Awardwinning single from their 1990 album, Violator.