That Russian Bass Sound

The St Petersburg Chamber Choir directed by Nikolai Korniev on a double cd performing Rachmaninoff's Vespers of the all night vigil and the Liturgy of St John Chrystostom. Soloists in the Vespers are Olga Borodina, mezzo and Vladimir Moztowoy, tenor. While in the Liturgy, soloists are tenor Alexander Ranne, baritone Sergey Tsipcalo and soprano Natalia Kornieva. The sacred music of the Russian Orthodox church is very austere and Rachmaninoff was criticised in ecclesiastical circles for over elaboration. It is true that the Vespers in particular are more frequently performed in the western concert hall than the Orthodox church but there is no doubting the sincerity and feeling for the text, even in someone who wasn't entirely bound to the church. The Liturgy is maybe closer to Orthodox chant but it follows on from Tchaikovsky's pioneering work with the same texts in a most affecting way. Even richer booming bass sounds might be expected from a Russian choir but the familiarity of the forces here with the tradition is a definite plus.