THE LAST SUPPER

Lips CD 018
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Friedrich Lips, bayan

1)Vladimir Toncha, violoncello

    Shisei Nihon Symphony Orchestra; Yuji Takahashi, conductor

    live recording in Suntory Hall, Tokyo

    March 27 th, 1990

3) Chamber orchestra of Nathalia Sats-Children’s Music Theater

    Viktor Jakovlev, conductor

     live recording in the Great Hall of the House of Composers, Moscow

     February 25th, 2002

In the course of the centuries the topic of crucifixion has attracted the interest of many outstanding artists, painters, poets and composers. Jesus Christ's famous words, which he uttered from on the cross, form the basis for well-known cycles by H. Schütz (400 years ago) and J.Haydn (200 years ago). Now S.Gubaidulina, one of the most important women composers of modern age, is glancing at the great events of the past 2000 years. To present her thoughts, however, she needs – apart from classical instruments – totally new musical colours. For the role of God the Father she chose the bayan, the violoncello for God the Son, as well as sometimes for the Holy Ghost. The orchestra holds the part of the evangelists as narrators. Sometimes these parts are also exchanged. Remember the famous words which are the basis of S.Gubaidulina’s Partita "Seven Words", for violoncello, bayan and chamber orchestra:

1. Father, Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do

2. Woman, Behind Thy Son. Son, Behold Thy Mother

3. Verily, I Say Unto Thee: Today Thou Shalt Be With Me In Paradise

4. My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken me?

5. I Thirst.

6. It Is Accomplished

7. Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit  

After visiting the monastery in the north of Russia, in the area of Vologda, V.Solotarjov wrote the oeuvre "Monastery of Ferapont, meditation about the Dionisy frescos", as the composer was highly impressed by these witty and novel frescos which were created by the great Russian painter Dionisy.

For mankind, the secret of Judas' treachery has been a mystery for more than 2000 years. According to one version referring to the secret of the Last Supper, the disciple told his master, "I was ordered to betray you." Then Jesus replied, "Do what you must do, it shall be as it shall be." This has been confirmed in the only recently discovered gospel by Judas, in which Judas Ischariot turns out to be Christ's best disciple. According to this, the master himself asked Judas to sacrifice him and thus free Christ's soul from the human body. In fact, without this treachery, the history of Christianity would be completely different. And the oeuvre by M.Bronner, one of the most famous Russian composers, is based on this complicated riddle. He manages to depict the confusion in Judas' soul, his doubts and restlessness, as well as the dilemma of consciousness of one of the best disciples who is to betray his master, in a very credible way. All the time the music holds the tension in both, interpreters and audience. In the second half of the oeuvre, the musicians several times whisper the word "Judas" which, in the end, sounds questioning – "Judas?" This question has not been answered for the past 2000 years, and still nobody is able to answer it. M.Bronner's "Passion of Judas" does not answer it either.

The program of this CD is concluded with Bach's Hymn –Prelude "I call, Jesus Christ", BWV 639. There people turn towards God by meditation about all eternity.