Cantabile Regensburg, Matthias Becker - Gárdonyi Chorwerke - Kórusmüvek - Choral Works (2021)

Father and son joined together on one CD. This not only sounds plausible on paper, but also works admirably in this magnificent edition, which includes
eleven choral works by Zoltan Gardogna (1906-1986) and Zsolt Gardogna (born 1946) on spiritual and secular texts, with eight works
recorded for the first time. Under the direction of Mathias Beckert, the Cantabile Regensburg ensemble successfully combines the various styles presented here into a perfect
richly textured choral sound.
In the works of the musician's father, archaic compositional techniques and a unique language are traced, organically combining sharp and subtle contradictions in the overall
sound. The most impressive are the psalms "The Lord is my Shepherd", written in 1948 under the influence of the closure of all church music departments
in the Eastern Bloc, "God is our Refuge" and the large—scale motet "Életés békesség" (Life and Peace) in 1966. The fact that the singers perform these, as well as a number of other
works, in the original Hungarian language, arouses additional respect.
His son's works, created in a classical-modern style ("Valse triste!"), sound somewhat more convincing than his experiments in the genres of gospel and jazz.
In 2011, the Cantabile Regensburg choir performed for the first time their version of an excerpt from Peter's Second Epistle, "The Day before the Lord." The choir performs this powerful, somber
interpretation ("... then the heavens will rumble through...") with captivating naturalness. Finally, the version of "The Moon Has Risen", gently exploring new harmonic
horizons, is simply charming. A balm for the soul of a listener who loves choral music.