Search - Georgy Vasilevich Sviridov, Alexander Grechaninov, Viktor Kalinnikov :: Ikon

English Choir Come Close to Authentic Russian

John D. Dooley | Southern California United States | 04/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My wife is from Russia & when we first played this CD, we thought the Choir was from Russia. No, its the Holst Singers, a group from England. How did they do it? I always like James Bowman as a counter tenor, but the Angelic Soprano is the highlight on this CD, even the bass singers sound like Russian deacons chanting biblical verses or praises to God through the Holy Doors. Most of the musical sections are classic Russian choir songs from the liturgy, but the "Four Choruses From Songs Of Troubled Times" is rather folk to maybe pagan in origin. The last 3 sections are from modern composers that fit well with the older material. We listen this CD all the time, specially before church, or during Holy Days, & believe me; the Orthodox church has a lot of Holidays :)"

Beautiful Music

D. Schulenberg | MN | 08/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ikon is perhaps the best acapella CD of Russian music I have purchased. I had looked for years trying to find a certain song; and when I found it on this cd I bought it solely for that song. What a suprise to hear the rest. I listen to it at least once a day. A must Buy!"

Great Russian music and more

John D. Dooley | 05/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I can say one thing about Stephen Layton's Holst Singers, it's that they know how to interpret Russian music. However, the standout on this CD is one of only three songs by non-Russian composers. This particular piece is Norwegian composer Knut Nystedt's "Immortal Bach." If you like Nystedt at all, you should by this CD. "Immortal Bach" is Nystedt at his best. Other than this piece, the CD isn't spectacular. It's just good Russian music. James Bowman's countertenor voice is hard to get used to and sometimes he is a bit flat. However, the entire CD is worth "Immortal Bach." I had to wait a very long time to receive this CD, but it was well worth the wait because of the Nystedt piece."