Rachmaninov, S.: Vespers, Op. 37 (Live) Tenebrae & Nigel Short

• Sergei Rachmaninoff (b.1943): All-night Vigil, Op. 37: No. 6, Ave Maria:
• 1 Beginning song: Come let us worship 02:13
• 2 All-night Vigil, Op. 37: No. 6, Ave Maria (Live): Psalm 103, "O praise the Lord" 04:46
• 3 Psalm 1, "Blessed is the man" 05:15
• 4 O Joyful Light 02:35
• 5 Song of Simeon: Lord, now let your servant depart 03:11
• 6 Hail, O Virgin Mother 03:05
• 7 Hexapsalms: Glory to God on high 02:28
• 8 Psalm 134-135, "O praise the name of the Lord" 02:04
• 9 Glorifying song of the Resurrection: Teach me O lord in the way of truth 05:35
• 10 Hymn of Resurrection: We have seen the resurrection 02:57
• 11 Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord 08:10
• 12 Great Doxology: Glory be to God on high 07:06
• 13 Resurrection hymn: This day of salvation has com to the world 01:44
• 14 Resurrection hymn: When you had risen 03:17
• 15 Thanksgiving hymn of Virgin Mary: O victorious leader 02:46
• Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Op. 31:
• 16 XII. Tebe poyem (We praise thee) 03:02
• Total Runtime 01:00:14

Info zu Rachmaninov, S.: Vespers, Op. 37 (Live)

Signum Classics are proud to release a LIVE recording of the stirring performance by Tenebrae of Rachmaninoff’s ‘All-Night Vigil’ (Vsenoshchnoye bdeniye, Op. 37).

The recording was made live at the North Wales International Music Festival in conjunction with Boosey & Hawkes, Music Publishers Ltd.

The roots of the Russian Orthodox Church are traceable back into the Third Century A.D. Whilst Western forms of Christianity continued to evolve, the Orthodox tradition has been preserved largely intact since the 11th Century, despite persecution of the Church under an intolerant Communist regime in Russia.

The music of the Russian Orthodox Church features vocal chants, the oldest of which is known as znamenny (from the Slavonic znamia meaning “sign”). The melody of this chant is extremely simple, and whilst other composers added their characteristic harmonic effects, Rachmaninoff consciously preserved the modal purity of the original in his setting of the Vespers.

The all-night vigil is celebrated on the eve of the main feasts of the Orthodox Church. Originally it lasted all night and consisted of three separate services to celebrate the beauty of the setting sun, and to reflect on the spiritual light of Christ as the new light of the coming day and the eternal light of heaven. Rachmaninoff’s setting of the vigil was written in 1915, in the middle of the First World War. He has used authentic znamenny chant in seven movements, with two movements employing Greek chants.

“Even in my dreams I could not have imagined that I would write such a work” Rachmaninoff told the singers at the first performance in March 1915.

The work is dedicated to the scholar Stephan Vasilevitch Smolensky who introduced Rachmaninoff to the repertoire of the church, however the composer’s inspiration was as much politically motivated as spiritually – the composition was a powerful affirmation of nationalism during the war.

Tenebrae characteristically create an atmosphere of spiritual and musical reflection at their performances, using candlelight and movement within ecclesiastical venues.

"Nigel Short and Tenebrae have just the right balance of control and passion, reverence and exuberance that makes for such a superb performance." (The Organ)

"The result is both intimate and powerfully atmospheric, shedding new and memorable light on what usually comes across as a massive choral spectacular." (Classic FM Magazine)

"The All-Night Vigil is celebrated on the eve of the main feasts of the Russian Orthodox church with the purpose of showing a sense of beauty in the setting sun." (Classic FM Magazine)

Tenebrae Nigel Short, conductor

Tenebrae
Described as 'phenomenal' (The Times) and 'devastatingly beautiful' (Gramophone), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles renowned for its passion and precision.

Tenebrae’s ever-increasing discography has brought about collaborations with Signum, Decca Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live and Warner Classics. In 2012 Tenebrae were the first-ever ensemble to be multi-nominated in the same category for the BBC Music Magazine Awards, securing the accolade of Best Choral Performance for their recording of Victoria’s Requiem Mass, 1605. The following year the choir’s recording of Fauré’s Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra was nominated for the Gramophone Awards, having been described as 'the very best Fauré Requiem on disc' (Gramophone) and 'the English choral tradition at its zenith' (Richard Morrison, Chief Music Critic, The Times). In 2014 the choir’s recording of Russian Orthodox music was launched on its own label, Bene Arte, receiving glowing reviews and reaching number 1 in the UK Specialist Classical Chart. In 2016 Tenebrae received its second BBC Music Magazine Award for a recording of Brahms and Bruckner Motets, the profits from the sale of which benefit Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tenebrae is a dedicated advocate for contemporary composers having worked with Judith Bingham, Ola Gjeilo, Alexander L’Estrange, Alexander Levine, Paweł Łukaszewski, Paul Mealor, Owain Park, Hilary Tann, Joby Talbot, Sir John Tavener and Will Todd. The choir is renowned for its highly acclaimed interpretations of choral music with repertoire ranging from hauntingly passionate works of the Renaissance through to contemporary choral masterpieces.

Tenebrae is regularly engaged with the world’s finest orchestras and has appeared at major national and international festivals including the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, Three Choirs Festival, Leipzig Gewandhaus (Germany) and Montreux Choral Festival (Switzerland).

Tenebrae and Nigel Short co-curate a Holy Week Festival at St John’s Smith Square, London, together with regular concerts throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. Alongside concert performances, the choir presents its inspirational workshop method, The Tenebrae Effect, designed to challenge and advance every participant by instilling skills essential to a Tenebrae performance.

‘Passion and Precision’ are Tenebrae’s core values. Through its continued dedication to performance of the highest quality, Tenebrae’s vision is to deliver dramatic programming, flawless performances and unforgettable experiences, allowing audiences around the world to be moved by the power and intimacy of the human voice.

Nigel Short
Award-winning conductor Nigel Short has built up an enviable reputation for his recording and live performance work with leading orchestras and ensembles across the world.

A singer of great acclaim, Nigel was a member of the renowned vocal ensemble The King’s Singers from 1994–2000. Upon leaving the group, he formed Tenebrae, a virtuosic choir that embraced his dedication to passion and precision. Under his direction Tenebrae has collaborated with internationally acclaimed orchestras and instrumentalists and now enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles.

To date, Nigel has conducted the Aurora Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, English Chamber Orchestra, English Concert, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble. He has directed the London Symphony Orchestra alongside Tenebrae in a live recording of Fauré’s Requiem, which was nominated for the Gramophone Awards (2013), and since then, he has conducted the orchestra at St Paul’s Cathedral as part of the City of London Festival. Other orchestral recordings include Mozart’s Requiem and Ave verum corpus with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and two discs of music by Will Todd with the English Chamber Orchestra.

Nigel has vast recording experience having conducted for many of the world’s major labels including Decca Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live, Signum and Warner Classics. As a Gramophone award-winning producer, Nigel works with many of the UK’s leading professional choirs and vocal ensembles including Alamire, Ex Cathedra, Gallicantus and The King’s Singers.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet