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Cover: Sergei Rachmaninov – All-Night Vigil, Op. 37

Sergei Rachmaninov

All-Night Vigil, Op. 37

Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Klava, conductor

ODE 1206-5 · SACD · November 2012

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Track listing

15 tracks · 62:30

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Sergei Rachmaninov

  1. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 62:31
  2. 1 Come, Let Us Worship (Priidite, poklonimsia) 2:31
  3. 2 Bless the Lord, O My Soul (Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Ghospoda) 6:26
  4. 3 Blessed Is the Man (Blazhen muzh) 6:09
  5. 4 Gladsome Light (Svete tihiy) 3:20
  6. 5 Lord, Now Lettest Thou (Nïne otpushchayeshï) 3:19
  7. 6 Rejoice, O Virgin (Bogoroditse Devo) 3:07
  8. 7 The Six Psalms (Shestopsalmiye) 2:33
  9. 8 Praise the Name of the Lord (Hvalite imja Ghospodne) 2:12
  10. 9 Blessed Art Thou, O Lord (Blagosloven yesi, Ghospodi) 7:25
  11. 10 Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ (Voskreseniye Hristovo videvshe) 2:58
  12. 11 My Soul Magnifies the Lord (Velichit dusha moya Ghospoda) 7:20
  13. 12 The Great Doxology (Slavosloviye velikoye) 8:30
  14. 13 The Troparion ?Today Salvation Has Come? (Tropar ?Dnes spaseniye?) 1:35
  15. 14 The Troparion ?Thou Didst Rise from the Tomb? (Tropar ?Voskres iz groba?) 3:33
  16. 15 To Thee, the Victorious Leader (Vzbrannoy Voyevode) 1:32

About this recording

This new release of Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil follows several earlier releases featuring the acclaimed Latvian Radio Choir under its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Sigvards Kļava.

Inspired by the words, music and atmosphere of Russian Orthodox worship, Rachmaninov created with his Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (ODE 1151-5) and his All-Night Vigil two supreme examples of choral writing but also music of uplifting spiritual strength.

As instruments are being proscribed by Church law, the All-Night Vigil is composed for unaccompanied voices but Rachmaninov created a work of such richness that could be described as "choral orchestration". Dividing the chorus often up into eight parts and requiring a wide vocal range of the singers, Rachmaninov was asked: "Where on earth are we going to find such basses? They are as rare as asparagus at Christmas." But Rachmaninov knew well that, in Russian choirs, asparagus is available all year round.

The Latvian Radio Choir is regarded as one of the top professional chamber choirs in Europe. The repertoire extends from the Renaissance to the present day, and its main focus is on exploring the capabilities of the human voice and seeking to push its limits.

Sigvards Kļava, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992, is one of Latvia's most prolific choral conductors. Apart of the standard repertoire he has conducted most premières of new choral works by Latvian composers.

Features

Liner notes in English and Finnish. Lyrics with English translation.

Press

This is a siblimely beautiful yet rapturous recording.
Malcolm Riley, Gramophone 2/2013, Recording of the Month

Die kolossalen Turmbauten von den Bassi profundi bis in die leuchtenden Höhen, die ekstatischen Andeutungen in den Alleluja-Abschnitten, die spürbare Freude der Lobgesänge, dazu die verwirrendbetörenden „Frequenzen" der gesummten Orgelpunkte - auch nach mehrfachem Erleben verliert diese Veröffentlichung nichts von ihrem spezifischen Zauber. Und das ist ... das Beste, was eine Tonträgerproduktion bei Werken wie dieser Vespermusik überhaupt zu leisten vermag.
Rasmus van Rijn, Klassik Heute, 31.12.2012

Ö1, CD des Tages, 6 December 2012

This performance, by 'probably one of the finest choirs in the world today' ... and its modern and refined sound, ensure for this disc a place amongst tht most satisfying available.
William Hedley, IRR, 12/2012

One of the world's finest choral ensembles singing one of the 20th century's choral masterpieces; that is all you need to know.
Richard Morrison, The Times, 17.11.2012

The artists

Latvian Radio Choir

The Latvian Radio Choir is a full-time professional chamber choir founded in 1940. Chief Conductor Sigvards Kļava and Conductor Kaspars Putniņš have led the choir since 1992. The ensemble's repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present day, with a primary focus on exploring the capabilities of the human voice and seeking to extend its limits. A major part of the repertoire is dedicated to contemporary music and composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The choir is also open to creative experiments and often participates in dramatic performances and multimedia projects. The ensemble regularly commissions works from leading Latvian composers such as Pēteris Vasks and Ēriks Ešenvalds.

Full biography

Sigvards Klava

Sigvards Kļava began working with the Latvian Radio Choir in 1987 and was appointed its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in 1992. As one of Latvia's most prolific choral conductors, Sigvards Kļava has collaborated with every leading choir and orchestra in the country, performing the great works of the standard repertoire in addition to conducting most premieres of new choral works by Latvian composers. He has recorded numerous albums with the Latvian Radio Choir. Sigvards Kļava has also been Chief Conductor at a number of Latvian and Nordic song festivals. He is a co-founder of the Latvian New Music Festival ARENA and serves as a member of its artistic board. He teaches young conductors at the Choral Department of the Latvian Academy of Music and the Choral College of the Riga Lutheran Cathedral. Sigvards Kļava appears as a guest conductor with leading European choirs. He has received the Latvian Great Music Award and the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Award.

Full biography

Also recommended

Pēteris Vasks

Plainscapes

Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava

ODE 1194-2 · CD · Jan 2012

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