It won the Gramophone choral award in 1987 but the star of this recording is the sublime and truly heavenly singing of Emma Kirby. The recording is a well balanced whole of exquiste moments. Sutherland's slightly deep toned color (a touch of mezzo-soprano color) and her slight vibrato technique make a wonderful counterpart of the evil queen contrasted to the group of the righteous. The choral singing is sublime, clear, direct and vibrant. This is must have for any ,not only for Handelians.
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It won the Gramophone choral award in 1987 but the star of this recording is the sublime and truly heavenly singing of Emma Kirby. The recording is a well balanced whole of exquiste moments. Sutherland's slightly deep toned color (a touch of mezzo-soprano color) and her slight vibrato technique make a wonderful counterpart of the evil queen contrasted to the group of the righteous. The choral singing is sublime, clear, direct and vibrant. This is must have for any ,not only for Handelians.
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Sadly, this work is almost always viewed as the poor relation to Rachmaninov's glorious Vespers. Perhaps this is true in some respects, as the composer has had less input into writing the whole work, as almost every other movement is traditional Orthodox chant. This may put some off buying this disc, but I felt this simply put the music in context, and added an extra element not always included in discs of Russian Orthodox music. However, the music Rachmaninov did contribute to this liturgy is of the highest standards with some glorious, soaring melodies, thick choral textures, and then quiet, meditative prayers. The finest movements of this work are certainly of equal quality and beauty of those in the Vespers.
Sadly, this work is almost always viewed as the poor relation to Rachmaninov's glorious Vespers. Perhaps this is true in some respects, as the composer has had less input into writing the whole work, as almost every other movement is traditional Orthodox chant. This may put some off buying this disc, but I felt this simply put the music in context, and added an extra element not always included in discs of Russian Orthodox music. However, the music Rachmaninov did contribute to this liturgy is of the highest standards with some glorious, soaring melodies, thick choral textures, and then quiet, meditative prayers. The finest movements of this work are certainly of equal quality and beauty of those in the Vespers.
Sadly, this work is almost always viewed as the poor relation to Rachmaninov's glorious Vespers. Perhaps this is true in some respects, as the composer has had less input into writing the whole work, as almost every other movement is traditional Orthodox chant. This may put some off buying this disc, but I felt this simply put the music in context, and added an extra element not always included in discs of Russian Orthodox music. However, the music Rachmaninov did contribute to this liturgy is of the highest standards with some glorious, soaring melodies, thick choral textures, and then quiet, meditative prayers. The finest movements of this work are certainly of equal quality and beauty of those in the Vespers.
Sadly, this work is almost always viewed as the poor relation to Rachmaninov's glorious Vespers. Perhaps this is true in some respects, as the composer has had less input into writing the whole work, as almost every other movement is traditional Orthodox chant. This may put some off buying this disc, but I felt this simply put the music in context, and added an extra element not always included in discs of Russian Orthodox music. However, the music Rachmaninov did contribute to this liturgy is of the highest standards with some glorious, soaring melodies, thick choral textures, and then quiet, meditative prayers. The finest movements of this work are certainly of equal quality and beauty of those in the Vespers.
Sadly, this work is almost always viewed as the poor relation to Rachmaninov's glorious Vespers. Perhaps this is true in some respects, as the composer has had less input into writing the whole work, as almost every other movement is traditional Orthodox chant. This may put some off buying this disc, but I felt this simply put the music in context, and added an extra element not always included in discs of Russian Orthodox music. However, the music Rachmaninov did contribute to this liturgy is of the highest standards with some glorious, soaring melodies, thick choral textures, and then quiet, meditative prayers. The finest movements of this work are certainly of equal quality and beauty of those in the Vespers.