Danielpour: First Light - The Awakened Heart - Symphony No. 3, "Journey Without Distance" / First Light / The Awakened Heart - Esham, Seattle Symphony Chorale and Orchestra, Schwarz

Strongly inclined towards neo-romanticism, Richard Danielpour’s music is a rich unity of energy, intensity, and serenity. First Light reveals these elements perfectly with its rhythmically charged writing contrasting with hypnotic chant melodies. The Awakened Heart is a kaleidoscopic three-movement work that ranges from darkness and passion through a stately chorale to an exuberant and breathless conclusion. Symphony No 3 charts a triumphant ascent from “the dream of death and our own fearful existence” to a belief “in a world of hope and love.” “Danielpour is an outstanding composer for any time—one who knows how to communicate deep, important emotions through simple, direct means.” (The New York Daily News)