Utrenja

Penderecki's Utrenja was inspired by the Orthodox liturgy for Holy Saturday with its focus on
the lamentation of Christ's death and the Easter Sunday morning service commemorating the
Resurrection. The composer remarks that 'Utrenja is a combination of pure, a cappella vocal
writing and orchestral effects (for strings and percussion) very much connected with electronic
music'. Enthusiastically received by audiences, it stands beside his Polish Requiem (8.557386-87)
and St Luke Passion (8.557149) as one of the towering masterpieces of modern Polish music.