Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (Mass For Unaccompanied Chorus)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If those Gregorian chant discs seem a little, well, limited lately, perhaps it's time to move on to something equally spiritual but a bit more harmonically interesting. This disc, well-performed by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and conducted by the legendary choral leader, features a ravishing score by Rachmaninoff and is sung a capella, as is all Orthodox church music. (For a heartrendingly beautiful number, listen to the second cut, "Blagoslovi, Dushe Moya," or "Bless the Lord, O My Soul.") Along with well-tuned choral singing, there is a fine solo contribution by tenor Karl Dent. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (Mass For Unaccompanied Chorus), Music, Sergey Rachmaninov, Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Karl Dent, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Sacred Music for more than one Soloist & Chorus

Average customer rating:

OK, but not the best version

This is a GREAT recording!

Absolute Filth !

another dissenting review, sorry ;)

VALERY POLYANSKY'S VERSION IS BETTER

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (Mass for Unaccompanied Chorus)

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sergey Rachmaninov: Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31

Fauré · Duruflé - Requiem / J. Blegen · J. Morris · Atlanta SO · Shaw

ASIN: B000003CV0
Release Date: 1990-03-15

Tracks:

Come, Let Us Worship
'Bless The Lord, O My Soul'
'Blessed Be The Man'
'O Serene Light'
'Now Let Thy Servant Depart'
'Rejoice, O Virgin'
'Glory To God In The Highest'
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Amazon.com

If those Gregorian chant discs seem a little, well, limited lately, perhaps it's time to move on to something equally spiritual but a bit more harmonically interesting. This disc, well-performed by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and conducted by the legendary choral leader, features a ravishing score by Rachmaninoff and is sung a capella, as is all Orthodox church music. (For a heartrendingly beautiful number, listen to the second cut, "Blagoslovi, Dushe Moya," or "Bless the Lord, O My Soul.") Along with well-tuned choral singing, there is a fine solo contribution by tenor Karl Dent. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

OK, but not the best version.......2006-11-19

This was the only version I had for the longest time but although I enjoyed the piece I never was that excited by the performance. Then I listened to the Swedish Radio Choir version --- unfortunately, Robert Shaw Singers sound like amateurs next to these guys. First you realize how Americanized the Russian is on Shaw's recording and second you realize how weak the basses sound. The sum experience for the Shaw is that although quite beautiful at times it is overall muddy and the choir is not together (the opening number is especially noticeable --- it sounds as if the basses are about an eighth to a sixteenth behind ... and the diction ... let us just say that the choir needed ALOT more prep, so I understand why a few reviewers who seem Russian would call this trash ... imagine James Brown sung with the a strong Swedish accent!). Lastly, I think Shaw was attempting for what the French call the long line --- in other words he wanted the melodies to flow one into another as if one giant etheral exhalation. Unfortunately, he ended up with too little variance in dynamics and, with the diction problems, a rather bland sound many times.

Sorry to be so negative, I have heard other work by Shaw that is quite georgeous and worth keeping --- unfortunately not this CD.

I strongly recommend the Swedish Radio Choir or try the Russian choirs mentioned by others or even Holliard --- I do not know these versions at all but if you find one in the library try them out.

This is a GREAT recording!.......2006-08-05

I like this recording very much... as does everyone I know that owns it. I would not hesitate to purchase it again should the need arise.

Absolute Filth !.......2006-03-29

For a truly fantastic reading of the Rachmaninov Vespers check out the Polyansky recording on Melodiya.

another dissenting review, sorry ;).......2006-03-02

First I was eager to try out some Robert Shaw stuff because I read that he did a good Bach B Minor Mass. That one wasn't nearly as good as other versions I've heard (Gardiner, Parrott, Herreweghe) but I thought I'd give him another chance & picked up his version of Rachmaninov's Vespers (aka All-Nite Vigil). I have to say I honestly don't understand what the fuss is all about. (goes for both Shaw recordings I have) I think Shaw really burned his bridges with this recording. Maybe it's just that I don't like the sound of a big choir; I much prefer a small(ish) chamber choir sound. I'm not sure what it is about Shaw's recordings; they just sound sluggish & 'blurry' to me. Polyansky's & Hillier's versions are way beyond this one, & any other recording of Rachmaninov's Vespers that I've heard. The best 'western' version is probably the one by Matthew Best & the Corydon Singers. That's not saying much imo since there's really no comparison between a 'western' choir & 'non-western' one.

VALERY POLYANSKY'S VERSION IS BETTER.......2006-02-06

It just is. Deal with it. Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002T2QC4/ref=pd_sbs_m_3/103-2962540-4613441?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=5174

Trust me on this. Russians sing their own music better than non-Russians. This is a fact. Polyansky's version is more beautiful. This is also a fact.

So that's that.

Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil (Vespers) / Thomas, Seattle Pro Musica, et al

Average customer rating:

Rachmaniniv All-Night Vigil
Rachmaninoff's "Vespers" an emotional roller coaster ride...
a beautiful Vespers
Just an average person
Remarkable

Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil (Vespers) / Thomas, Seattle Pro Musica, et al
Sergei Rachmaninov , Seattle Pro Musica , Karen P. Thomas , Yelena Posrednikov , Stuart Lutzenhiser , Misha Myznikov , and Seattle Pro Musica
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Opera & Vocal | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (Mass for Unaccompanied Chorus)
The Queen

ASIN: B00000G4EM
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Tracks:

Priidite, poklonimsya (Come, Let Us Worship) [2:31]
Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Gospoda (Bless the Lord, O My Soul [4:32]
Blazhen Muzh (Blessed is the Man) [4:53]
Svete tikhyi (Gladsome Light) [2:45]
Nyne otpushchayeshi (Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart [2:46]
Bogoroditse Devo (Rejoice, O Virgin [2:25]
Shestopsalmiye (The Six Psalms: Glory to God in the Highest) [2:38]
Kvalite imya Gospodne (Praise the Name of the Lord) [2:32]
Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi ( Blessed Art Thou, O Lord) [6:01]
Voskreseniye Kristovo videvhse (Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ) [3:26]
Velechit dusha moya Gospoda (My Soul Magnifies the Lord) [8:08}
Slavosloviye velikoye (The Great Doxology: Glory to God in the Highest) [7:09]
Tropar: Dnes spaseniye (The Troparion: Today Salvation Has Come {1:48]
Tropar: Voskres iz groba (The Troparion: Thou didst Rise from the Tomb [3:13]
Vzbrannoy voyevode (To Thee, the Victorious Leader) [1:47]

Amazon.com

Though better known for his melodically fertile piano concertos and symphonies, Sergei Rachmaninoff composed some of his most stirring music for unaccompanied chorus in the Russian church music tradition. His Vespers in particular (or "All-Night Vigil," comprising more of the liturgical hours than its Western counterpart) shows a deep connection with Russian folk history and the Orthodox church. Here, Seattle Pro Musica draws on its experience with both early and modern compositions, evoking the traditionally rooted yet deeply personal voice of the composer with a pious, sensuous serenity. Just as Duruflé and other Western composers have riffed off Gregorian chant, Rachmaninoff turns to the resonant tradition of Russian Orthodox liturgy for inspiration but builds a movingly spacious and orchestral fullness from these layers of unaccompanied voices, where the distinctly Russian elements characteristic of Rachmaninov are unmistakable. Notice the formidable depths of the Magnificat or the Nunc Dimittis, where Seattle Pro Musica's basses acquit themselves admirably, though the overall intensity of the vocal blend seems unduly softened at the polyphonic climaxes, which bloom like sunrises on a darkened tundra. In fact, throughout the piece, conductor Karen P. Thomas guides the 15 canticles of this piece toward sublime though somewhat muted conclusions. Seattle Pro Musica's account makes for a fascinating contrast to Stephen Cleobury's stunning recent version with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. Still, this rendition captures the essential gravity and soaring celebration of these ancient prayers. Listen and be swept up in heavenly rapture. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Sergei Rachmaninov composed the All-Night Vigil in 1915, one of three sacred Slavonic choral works he composed in the span from 1893-1915, during the height of the New Russian Choral School and during Rachmaninov's most active compositional period. The All-Night Vigil, perhaps the crowning achievement in Russian choral music, is comprised of texts for the services of Vespers, Matins and Prime and was probably intended for concert performance rather than for liturgical use. The composition is sometimes more popularly referred to as Rachmaninov's Vespers, but that label is inaccurate when the complete texts of the All-Night Vigil are included. Using authentic Russian chant melodies as the compositional base for nine of the fifteen movements, he composed melodies to sound like chant for the other six.

Customer Reviews:

Rachmaniniv All-Night Vigil.......2007-05-13

Excellent recording. At least the equal of the St Petersburg Chamber Choir, which has also recorded this work. This is an excellent choral ensemble by any standards.

Rachmaninoff's "Vespers" an emotional roller coaster ride..........2006-07-13

Rachmaninoff's "Vespers" is such a brilliant and deeply felt emotional roller coaster ride-- all 15 teen movements... If you're in the mood to feel sad then put on this CD-- guarantee to stir your soul to unknown heights...

--A. David Burleigh (aka: "Big Dave") an 'AmeriCanadian' Record Producre/ Artist/ Singer-Songwritre.

a beautiful Vespers.......2005-12-23

There are so many fine versions of Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil available, one can afford to be particular in appreciation. Karen P. Thomas' Seattle Pro Musica delivers a finely manicured and wonderfully able version issued on its own label. The treble voices are especially pure, and the basses possess for the most part the necessary heft and depth, but the approach to the score sometimes strikes me as lacking dimension. I always consider the singing of the Nunc dimittus the guiding benchmark of any version of this piece, and tenor Stuart Lutzenhiser, whatever his nationality, offers a beautiful tenor solo. For all the authentic emotional color manifested, the choir, Mr. Lutzenhiser included, ultimately seems not to escape a fetching American sound, and in the end the Slavic heart of the score can seem more cultivated than compelling. But importantly, the musicianship is first rate, the pianissimos are exquisitely realized, and among the 'quicker' versions (56:47) available, especially from non-Russian choirs, this is a beautiful effort worthy of repeated listenings. Should Seattle Pro Musica read this review, I suggest to them a look at Shvedov's Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. I suspect they could work manifest wonders there.

Just an average person.......2004-01-04

Im just an average person. Im rather ignorant actually when it comes to music like this. I just recently graduated college and needless to say, this isnt the most popular music amoung my age group. I was introduced to choir music while tripping across a track from Vespers while looking for Rachs 3rd concerto after having seen the movie "Shine". When I listen to this music, I close my eyes and feel like Im floating in air. It flows through you from your eye lids to your toes. Sometimes I have to gasp for air and I feel like crying. Being as im your average person whos never experienced feelings like that from any other medium, I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be moved, regardless of the fact you dont normally listen to this type of music.

Remarkable.......1999-08-05

We bought copies of the cd for our family and friends to introduce them to the richness that choral music brings to the listener. A wonderful cd to enjoy with a warm fire on a cool night.

Average customer rating:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers, Op. 37

Manufacturer: Globe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: O Come, Let Us Worship - Alexander Nazarov
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Bless The Lord, O My Soul (Greek Chant) - Yelena Necheporenko
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Blessed Is The Man
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Gladsome Radiance (Kiev Chant) - Ruben Sevostyanov/Alexander Nazarov
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant (Kiev Chant)
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Ave Maria - Alexander Zlobin
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Hexapsalmos: Glory Be To God On High (Znamenniy Chant)
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Laud Ye The Name Of The Lord (Znamenniye Chant)
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Blessed Art Thou, O Lord (Znamenniy Chant) - Ruben Sevostyanov
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: The Veneration Of The Cross
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord - Alexander Nazarov
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Glory Be To God On High (Znamenniy Chant) - Alexander Nazarov
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Hymn 'Today Hath Salvation Come To Earth' (Znamenniy Chant)
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Hymn 'When Thou, O Lord' (Znamenniy Chant)
Vespers, Op.37 (All-Night Vigil) Mass: Hymn The The Mother Of God (Greek Chant)

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