Search - Rodion Shchedrin, Vladimir Minin, Alexander Golyshev :: Sealed Angel

An intriguing tour de force of Russian choral music!

Norma Sipowicz (rtst19@hal-pc.org) | Houston, Tx | 08/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll dispense with audiophiles' concerns first. On a purely technical level, CD's don't get any better! But should you be tempted by my review, be forewarned & protect your speakers - the sound level starts with a whisper & proceeds to a full shout in less than 10 minutes. The dynamic range througout the disc is immense.The music? Written in 1988 by Rodion Shchedrin and recorded on Melodiya in 1989 in Church Slavonic, this is Russian choral music at its finest. (He also wrote a haunting Carmen Suite often played on our Classical radio station.) Much of the composition is in the classic Russian tradition. Shchedrin starts with the soothing softness of a baby's lullabye, proceeds into tension and then dissonance as the story unfolds. And back and forth. But the dissonant passages always resolve themselves; they fit into the scheme of the near-tragedy being portrayed.The performance? The combined Moscow Chamber Choir and The USSR Choir are accompanied only by a pan flute; "expertly done" is a trite understatement! (Only the Russians have such soul-searching bassos.) This is anything but an easy work to sing! The choirs' treacherous glissando near the end is a free-fall as seamless and profound as Niagara Falls. And the finale? I'll leave that to the delicate pan flute to describe.The story sung? (I wish I understood Russian so I could follow the tale - if YOU do, please contact me at rtst19@hal-pc.org My copy of this CD came from Russia; there is no English description of the story with it.) It was written by Nickolay Leskov in 1872 and concerns the conflicts faced by "the Old Believers" who refused to accept the reforms in the Orthodox Church in mid-sixteenth century Russia. The reformers were destroying the Icons so dear to the Russians' souls: The Sealed Angel was one such Icon. Her spirit can be heard crying out in Shchedrin's masterpiece as she is stolen, nearly destroyed, rescued by the peasants who cherish her and finally restored. I think the flute is her haunting, desperate and finally peaceful voice. Should you be interested in Leskov's story, find a copy of "The Sealed Angel and Other Stories By Nickolay Leskov", author - K.A. Lantz, The University of Tennessee Press/Knoxville, 1984, ISBN 0-87049-411-2. Most interesting reading!I had been told 3 years ago that this CD was out of print - another tragedy avoided! While I haven't heard any other recording of The Sealed Angel, I can't see how this performance could be improved upon. Indeed, given the proximity of its composition to the date of this recording, I can't help but suspect that Shchedrin himself might have been involved with this performance. Hopefully, this re-release includes some of its story.I'd love to hear your impressions of it - I find this music altogether addictive!Norma Sipowicz, 8/7/99"