Intended for performance in a large, ambient church, Hatzis' massive Kyrie is more a ritual than a piece of concert music. The work is a musical triptych set to the Greek words ‘Kyrie Eleison/Christe Eleison' of the Roman Catholic Mass. Each of the three sections of the work is roughly twenty minutes long and is set to either ‘Kyrie' (I), ‘Christe' (II) or both (III).
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.
