Light from the Cross is based on Armenian liturgical hymns of the Holy Week and it is dedicated to Isabel Bayrakdarian, the singer for whom it was written. Rather than a set of arrangements of existing hymns, the composer has created an oratorio-like composition based on the Lord's Passion, focusing on the themes touched upon by the hymn texts and developing these themes within the orchestral context.
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.
