Search - Mstyslav Yurchenko, Chamber Choir of the Ukrainian Music, Maxim Berezovsky :: The Ukrainian sacred music of 18th century

The Ukrainian Sacred Music of the 18th Century

Zoltan B. | Berkeley, CA United States | 06/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Ukrainian Sacred Music of the 18th Century CD is a wonderful selection of works by the Ukrainian composer Maxim Berezovsky (1745-1777) , one of the outstanding composers of the 18th century. Performed by the Chamber Choir of the Ukrainian Music "Vidrodgennia", founded in 1985, by Mstyslav Yurchenko.Maxim Berezovsky was an opera singer and a violinist, and studied at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy together with another well-know composer...Wolfganfg Amadeus Mozart. He wrote operas, instrumental pieces, which were performed in Europe, but it was his choir compositions that brought him the widest fame. His well-known choir work "Do Not Repudiate Me In My Old Age" became a model of the cyrillic choir concert. Berezovsky had a considerable influence on the 19th and the 20th century composers, Bortnyansky and Vedel.Berezovky died at the age of 32. Very little is known of his life, and his works were only recently rediscovered. Mr. Yurchenko is a graduate of the Kyiv Conservatory, and has recorded over 200 unknown works of Ukrainian composers. The Choir "Vidrodgennia" popularized the Ukrainian Church music during its recent tours to Poland and Italy. In 1993 the Choir won the grand prix and the gold medal at the prestigious international choir competition in Varna, Bulgaria."

A marvelous production

N. E. Terry | Tustin, CA USA | 01/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the 1990's, following the fall of bolshevism in Russia and the nations of the former soviet union, Orthodox Christian church life and devotion have seen a great revitalization there, despite the hardships those lands have endured in their quest for liberty. With this flourishing new Church life, many works of Russian liturgical music performed by choirs in the Russia, the Ukraine, and other former soviet states have appeared on CD. Some of these performances have been tremendously beautiful. One of my favorites is entitled "Russian Hymns in Honour of the Mother of God" ("Marienhymnen aus Russland"), about which I have also written a review on Amazon.com. The present one, featuring Ukranian liturgical music of the 18th Century, and in particular the work of Maxim Berezhovsky, is also one of the best I have heard. It is a beautiful recording and suitable for prayer."