Ikon Italia

Honored in 2009 with an Academy Award, David Gompper has traveled the world working as a pianist, conductor and composer, and developing a fascination with all manner of things, from the experience of echoes in the mountains, to the images of popular film and TV, and even old Russian icons. Putting such disparate ideas into play, his music often has a tightly-organised yet free flowing character making it endlessly fascinating. David Gompper’s compositions are heard throughout the United States and Europe.

Ikon by Harry Christophers and the Sixteen is a marvelous offering of sacred choral gems, the group's second collection on Decca following the successful 2005 release Renaissance: Music for Inner Peace. A perfect disc to introduce this well-established vocal ensemble to newcomers, Ikon consists of 16 works that are evenly matched in their sublime moods and understated delivery; listeners who might enjoy an hour-long disc of uninterrupted "chill-out" bliss are likely to find it here, while others who relish gorgeous tone quality and rich divisi harmonies will be delighted with the warm, resonant performances.

Written for The Tallis Scholars, Ikon of Light is scored for double choir and string trio, heard from a distance. The sonorous choral textures have a strongly mystical spirit which radiantly expresses the Greek concept of light.