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 and St Luke Passion  as one of the towering masterpieces of modern Polish music.

Utrenja, Part I, "The Entombment of Christ"
Hossa, Iwona, soprano
Rehlis, Agnieszka, mezzo-soprano
Kusiewicz, Piotr, tenor
Nowacki, Piotr, bass
Bezzubenkov, Gennady, bass
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Wit, Antoni, Conductor

1.   I. Troparion 00:06:13
2.   II. Songs of Praise 00:16:38
3.   III. Irmos 00:06:36
4.   IV. Canon of the Holy Saturday, Song 9 00:02:13
5.   V. Irmologion (Stichira) 00:08:33

Utrenja, Part II, "The Resurrection of Christ"
Hossa, Iwona, soprano
Rehlis, Agnieszka, mezzo-soprano
Kusiewicz, Piotr, tenor
Nowacki, Piotr, bass
Bezzubenkov, Gennady, bass
Warsaw Boys Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Wit, Antoni, Conductor

6.   I. The Gospel 00:02:35
7.   II. Stichira 00:06:39
8.   III. Psalm with Troparion 00:08:22
9.   IV. Passover Canon, Songs 1 and 3 00:03:43
10.   V. Passover Canon, Song 8 00:02:50
11.   VI. Kontakion 00:02:41
12.   VII. Ikos 00:01:43
13.   VIII. Passover Canon, fragments 00:06:04