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| |  | Classical | Home » » » Rachmaninov: Vespers | | | | | | | Description: | | Mezzo-soprano Irina Arkhipova is one of Russia's most honored vocal artists, renowned throughout the world. She was one of the few Soviet artists who traveled extensively and was thus able to bring the distinguished traditions of the Russian style to opera houses and concert halls on every continent. Mme. Arkhipova has been awarded numerous prizes for her performances and her recordings. She is currently a professor at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. The Vespers (more correctly titled All-Night Vigil) is Rachmaninov’s most famous liturgical work, filled with evocative, textured choral writing that quotes liberally from the rich chant of the Russian Orthodox Church. Valery Polyansky, now making a name for himself as an orchestral conductor, is well versed in choral music and has made several critically-acclaimed recordings of key Russian choral works. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Polyansky studied with Boris Kulikov and Gennady Rozhdesventsky. In 1992 he founded the Symphonic Cappella, a large, flexible, Moscow-based ensemble of choral singers and orchestral musicians. | | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| September 07, 2004 | | Studio:
| Moscow Studio | | Composer:
| Sergey Rachmaninov | | Conductor:
| Valery Polyansky | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 12 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Priidite, Poklonimsya (O Come, Let Us Worship) | | 2. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Blagoslovi, Dushe Moya', Gospoda (Praise the Lord, O My Soul) | | 3. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Blazhen Muzh (Blessed Is The Man) | | 4. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Svete Tikhii (Hail, Gladdening Light) | | 5. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Nyne Otpushchaeshi (Nunc Dimittis) | | 6. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Bogoroditse Devo (Rejoice, O Virgin Mother Of God) | | 7. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Shestopsalmie (Hexapsalmos) | | 8. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Khvalite Imya Gospodne (O Praise The Name Of The Lord) | | 9. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Blagosloven Esi, Gospodi (Blessed Art Thou, O Lord) | | 10. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Voskresenie Khristovo Videvshe (Having Beheld The Resurrection) | | 11. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Velichit Dusha Moya Gospoda (Magnificat) | | 12. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Slavoslovie Velikoe (The Great Doxology) | | 13. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Tropar': Dnes' Spasenie (Today Is Salvation Come) | | 14. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Tropar': Voskres Iz Groba (Thou Didst Rise From The Tomb) | | 15. | Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37: Vzbrannoi Voevode (To Thee, Our Leader In Battle) | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 found the following review helpful:
 get a Russian choir for this oneMay 07, 2005
By Margaret Magnus
I have probably listened to the Vespers 200 times, maybe more. A friend gave me a pirate of an old Melodiya recording done under the Soviet Regime, and nothing has ever so captured for me the essence of the Russia I knew. I'm convinced it is one of the truly great works of music. When I got back, I bought one Western recording and was really struck by how it just didn't do it for me the way that old recording did. I'm not in general super duper picky like some classical enthusiasts can be -- at least I don't think so. But in this case, it did genuinely make a difference to me. People try to get too expressive or animated or something -- try to express something rather than simply be something -- and the thing completely collapses for me. I need to feel the space and depth and cold of Siberia sink in on me. I just gave up on trying to buy a legal recording. Now the wall has come down, and this recording comes very close to that old one.
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Russia found the BassesFeb 06, 2006
By J'Carlin
"J'Carlin"
On another recording of the Vespers Rhachmaninov was quoted as saying "If I write the music, Russia will find the basses."
With the basses this is a totally different piece. Incredibly rich and beautiful. I am torn between wanting to finish a movement, and backtracking to experience an exquisite passage again and again.
(No.11 kept me from the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl live.)
I don't think I have ever heard a choir so responsive. And Polyanski requested the impossible. The dynamic range within a single bar unbelievable. Intonation impeccable. The definitive example of choral artistry.
A must have for every choral musician.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
without question the bestJan 08, 2007
By Scott N. Stone
I can only agree with the other reviews. I have sung Russian choral music for 25 years and have listened to at least eight recordings of the Vespers, and this one is not only the best, but a completely different experience in its depth, power and musical mastery. Truly astonishing and in my opinion the best single recording of choral music ever made on Earth. Rachmaninov especially loved this work - he asked that the nunc dimitis (Track 5) be sung at his funeral. This recording preserves this immortal music in the way I think Rachmaninov must have conceived it should be sung.
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
This is the best version of Rachmaninov's VespersJan 03, 2006
By Corie Anastasia
I too have listened to multiple versions of Rachmaninov's vespers, including Robert Shaw's. However, those versions do not even come close to the musical genius that is Valery Polyansky. In fact, they just sit and collect dust while I keep this version on constant repeat. My cd is pretty beat up. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it is my favorite cd ever and probably the one I "Couldn't Live Without". Everyone should own this cd. Everyone. And anyone who has ever listened to this cd once will agree with me. Especially track 5 "O Now Let Thy Servant Depart". I get chills every single time and I listen to it almost daily. You do the math.
In conclusion, BUY THIS.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Amazing ChoirSep 15, 2005
By William G. Kempster
There are a couple of Russian versions of this great piece that are good, but this one is the best of all. It is nearly 20 years old now, but the range of dynamics and controll of colour the choir has is staggering. The accoustic is perfect for this music: resonant but clear, and although the loud passages harden a little it is still preferable to every other recording I have heard.
As for the performance. This is how this music should sound. Those by English choirs (especially with boys!) simply don't convince, and American choirs have not the vaguest hint of a clue. Both the Shaw and Rostropovich recordings are horrific compared to this, and totally miss the point. Buy this one while it is still available (in numerous different pressings - all the same recording).
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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