Minnesota Orchestra: To Be Certain of the Dawn

• By: Minnesota Orchestra
• Format: CD
• Publisher: BIS
• Usually ships in: 1 to 3 business days
• Product ##: 10538

Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus’ Holocaust oratorio, performed by the Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä.

"Originally commissioned by the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis—as a gift to the Jewish community, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the freeing of Holocaust survivors and to help teach an important lesson: the prevention of future genocide is in the hands of today’s children.

In creating the work, composer Stephen Paulus and librettist Michael Dennis Browne employed large forces, writing for cantor, soloists, children’s chorus, mixed choir and orchestra. Raising eternal questions regarding humanity, tolerance and respect, the powerful oratorio is divided into three sections: Renewal, Remembrance and Visions. It was described by the Star Tribune in 2008 as “a major composition that will take its place amongst the great oratorios.”

BIS recorded To Be Certain of the Dawn at Orchestra Hall in February 2008.