Achim Breiling wrote: >While the symphonies by Alan Pettersson are widely discussed his oratorium >"Vox Humana" is sparcely mentioned. There is a recording on BIS, coupled >with a work for orchestra and baritone by Hilding Rosenberg and I was about >to buy this several times, but as CPO is planning to release a recording of >that, I did not go for it, so far. Anybody knows the BIS release, is it >worth to get or should one better wait for the CPO? How does Vox Humana >compare to the rest of Petterssons output (I can not say that his choral >sym. no. 12 is among my favourite Pettersson syms!). The cantata "Vox Humana" was composed in 1974, the same year as the Symphony #12 "The Dead on the Plaza". Both are settings of poems by Pablo Neruda. I've had the BIS LP for quite a few years, and I seriously doubt that cpo will have anyone as good as Westerberg (the conductor on BIS) for their recording. Besides, Berkshire has the CD on sale for $8.99. That said: if you don't like the Sym. 12, you won't like the cantata. I myself am underwhelmed by both (and the sax concerto/sym 16). Poor old Pettersson was having a tough time that year, I would surmise. Now, WHEN is Segerstam going to resume HIS Pettersson cycle?!?!?! Mark [log in to unmask]