De Angelis is based on the antiphon "O gloriosissimi lux vivens angeli" by Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th-century mystic, poet and composer. Hatzis includes Hildegard's entire setting of her own text within the work, and her original is the focal point from which the music departs and returns throughout. The work is envisaged for performance in a church or similar liturgical setting, and the three altos, who sing together, and drone parts are disposed throughout the space.
Born in Greece, educated in the United States and a Canadian citizen since 1985, composer Christos Hatzis (b.1953) is becoming widely known as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. His works are performed and broadcast throughout the world, and their frequent combination of a powerful spiritual foundation with an immediately accessible appeal has made a deep emotional impact upon audiences and performers alike.
