Music for Holy Week (Orthodox Church)
Vladimir Berezansky, Jr. | Moscow, Russia | 10/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even though this is a slightly dated recording, it is well worth acquiring if this genre (Russian sacred choral music) appeals to you. Valery Polyansky remains the reigning master of Russian choral music - Russia's answer to Robert Shaw. (Unfortunately, Maestro Polyansky decided several years ago that he is a symphonic orchestral conductor. In my view, he sacrificed his true love and calling for respectability and stature in the classical music hierarchy.) Most of this music is recorded for the first time in the modern discography, and ALL of it is performed spectacularly by Polyansky and the Russian State Symphonic Cappella. The Chandos jacket editors did everyone a huge disservice by transliterating the Russian (Church Slavonic) titles rather than providing the English/Latin equivalents; but the program notes include translations for all the texts performed in the three major European languages. And I haven't even touched on the significance of Alexander Grechaninov as a major star in the constellation of Russian Orthodox liturgical music. His biography and his career are as fascinating as his music. It's unfortunate that his name remains unknown (except to teachers of beginning piano students). If you've searched for or stumbled on this listing, you owe it to yourself to purchase this recording. You won't regret it."