Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Slavoslovie Velikoe (The Great Doxology)
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Tropar': Dnes' Spasenie (Today Is Salvation Come)
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Tropar': Voskres Iz Groba (Thou Didst Rise From The Tomb)
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Vzbrannoi Voevode (To Thee, Our Leader In Battle)
Mezzo-soprano Irina Arkhipova is one of Russia's most honored vocal artists, renowned throughout the world. She was one of the few Soviet artists who traveled extensively and was thus able to bring the distinguished tradit... more »ions of the Russian style to opera houses and concert halls on every continent. Mme. Arkhipova has been awarded numerous prizes for her performances and her recordings. She is currently a professor at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. The Vespers (more correctly titled All-Night Vigil) is Rachmaninov?s most famous liturgical work, filled with evocative, textured choral writing that quotes liberally from the rich chant of the Russian Orthodox Church. Valery Polyansky, now making a name for himself as an orchestral conductor, is well versed in choral music and has made several critically-acclaimed recordings of key Russian choral works. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Polyansky studied with Boris Kulikov and Gennady Rozhdesventsky. In 1992 he founded the Symphonic Cappella, a large, flexible, Moscow-based ensemble of choral singers and orchestral musicians.« less
Mezzo-soprano Irina Arkhipova is one of Russia's most honored vocal artists, renowned throughout the world. She was one of the few Soviet artists who traveled extensively and was thus able to bring the distinguished traditions of the Russian style to opera houses and concert halls on every continent. Mme. Arkhipova has been awarded numerous prizes for her performances and her recordings. She is currently a professor at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. The Vespers (more correctly titled All-Night Vigil) is Rachmaninov?s most famous liturgical work, filled with evocative, textured choral writing that quotes liberally from the rich chant of the Russian Orthodox Church. Valery Polyansky, now making a name for himself as an orchestral conductor, is well versed in choral music and has made several critically-acclaimed recordings of key Russian choral works. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Polyansky studied with Boris Kulikov and Gennady Rozhdesventsky. In 1992 he founded the Symphonic Cappella, a large, flexible, Moscow-based ensemble of choral singers and orchestral musicians.
CD Reviews
Russia found the Basses
J'Carlin | San Jose, CA United States | 02/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On another recording of the Vespers Rhachmaninov was quoted as saying "If I write the music, Russia will find the basses."
With the basses this is a totally different piece. Incredibly rich and beautiful. I am torn between wanting to finish a movement, and backtracking to experience an exquisite passage again and again.
(No.11 kept me from the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl live.)
I don't think I have ever heard a choir so responsive. And Polyanski requested the impossible. The dynamic range within a single bar unbelievable. Intonation impeccable. The definitive example of choral artistry.
A must have for every choral musician.
"
This is the best version of Rachmaninov's Vespers
Corie Anastasia | California | 01/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I too have listened to multiple versions of Rachmaninov's vespers, including Robert Shaw's. However, those versions do not even come close to the musical genius that is Valery Polyansky. In fact, they just sit and collect dust while I keep this version on constant repeat. My cd is pretty beat up. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it is my favorite cd ever and probably the one I "Couldn't Live Without". Everyone should own this cd. Everyone. And anyone who has ever listened to this cd once will agree with me. Especially track 5 "O Now Let Thy Servant Depart". I get chills every single time and I listen to it almost daily. You do the math.
In conclusion, BUY THIS."
Amazing Choir
William G. Kempster | 09/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are a couple of Russian versions of this great piece that are good, but this one is the best of all. It is nearly 20 years old now, but the range of dynamics and controll of colour the choir has is staggering. The accoustic is perfect for this music: resonant but clear, and although the loud passages harden a little it is still preferable to every other recording I have heard.
As for the performance. This is how this music should sound. Those by English choirs (especially with boys!) simply don't convince, and American choirs have not the vaguest hint of a clue. Both the Shaw and Rostropovich recordings are horrific compared to this, and totally miss the point. Buy this one while it is still available (in numerous different pressings - all the same recording)."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1