Search - Tchaikovsky, Robev, Bulgarian a Cappella Choir :: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Op 41

Slavonic worship.

02/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Slavonic worship. Although settings of this ancient liturgy were familiar to Tchaikovsky, he felt that none were appropriate "to the Byzantine style of architecture". Listen to this enthralling performance of his setting of the liturgy, recorded in the Alexander Nevsky Basilica, Sofia, and you will hear how music and architecture can work together to inspire a sense of reverence and worship. Of course, the performance itself must originate it, and there is plenty of dedication and commitment evident in the singing of the wonderful Svetoslav Obretenov under their conductor Georgi Robev. The four male soloists are spatially well forward and the mixed unaccompanied choir well recessed, so that the vocal texture is rich and varied. The sound can resonate for up to seven seconds in this vast cathedral. Since most of the music is slow moving, the blurring acoustic does not detract from the aural clarity. Towards the end of the liturgy, however, when a series of allelujahs are being sung and the note values are quick and short, the effect is of sustained congestion. Included in this EMI double forte issue, is a selection of liturgical hymns, also in settings by Tchaikovsky."