Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

by Clarion Choir, Steven Fox

Overview

Most recordings of Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil, a setting of texts and some original chants from the Russian Orthodox all-night vigil service, are Russian; the work includes sonorities that are unique to that vocal tradition. The U.S.-based Clarion Choir has specialized in Russian choral music, and they are a logical choice to take on this quite difficult work. With 32 members, the Clarion Choir is quite a bit smaller than the choir Rachmaninov would have heard and those that have performed the work since. Director Steven Fox wisely avoids trying to compete with the Russians on their own ground, instead forging a distinctive sound in which quieter passages are quite delicate. These contrast sharply with the almost gravelly vocal textures usually heard in the work, but in climactic passages, Fox gives his group a fascinating kind of focused power that carries a good deal of ecstatic emotion. Sample part X, "Having beheld the Resurrection," for an idea. The choir seems to enunciate clearly and to approach the text with a sense of commitment; it would be interesting to consult a speaker of Old Church Slavonic for an evaluation of the group's success in this regard, but there is much distinctively beautiful singing here in any case, and the sound engineering from New York's Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is ideal. This release appeared on classical best-seller charts in early 2023. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2023
Label:	Pentatone Classics
UPC:	8717306260190
Rank:	104054

Tracks

1. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~I. Opening Exclamation & Come, Let Us Worship
2. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~II. Bless the Lord, O My Soul
3. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~III. Blessed is the Man
4. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~O Gladsome Light (Kyiv chant)
5. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~IV. O Gladsome Light
6. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~Lord, now lettest Thou (Kyiv chant)
7. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~V. Lord, now lettest Thou
8. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~VI. Rejoice, O Virgin
9. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~VII. The Six Psalms
10. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~Praise the Name of the Lord (Znameny chant)
11. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~VIII. Praise the Name of the Lord
12. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~IX. Blessed art Thou, O Lord
13. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~X. Having Beheld the Resurrection
14. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~XI. My Soul Magnifies the Lord
15. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~XII. The Great Doxology
16. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~Troparion: Today Salvation is Come (Znameny chant)
17. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~XIII. Troparion: Today Salvation is Come
18. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~Troparion: Thou didst rise from the Tomb (Znameny chant)
19. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~XIV. Troparion: Thou didst rise from the Tomb
20. All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, "Vespers"~XV. To Thee, O Victorious Leader

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Clarion Choir   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Steven Fox   Primary Artist,Conductor
Nacole Palmer   Soprano (Vocal)
Oliver Mercer   Tenor (Vocal)
Jonathan Woody   Bass (Vocal)
Mikki Sodergren   Alto (Vocals)
Jessica Beebe   Soprano (Vocal)
John Ramseyer   Tenor (Vocal)
Raha Mirzadegan   Soprano (Vocal)
Glenn Miller   Bass (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Brian Losch   Mastering,Mixing,Editing,Engineer
Martha de Francisco   Balance Engineer,Recording Producer
Vladimir Morosan   Editing,Liner Notes,Transcription,Text Translation
Sean Hickey   Managing Director
Kim Fox   Photography
Lucia Ghielmi   Cover Design
Renaud Loranger   A&R,Executive Producer
Gintas Norvila   Assistant Engineer
Nancy Conforti   Assistant Engineer
Steven Fox   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Silvia Pietrosanti   Marketing
Isabelle Provost   Photography
Gintas Norvilla   Assistant Engineer
Fotina Naumenko   Language Coach
Alexander Ruggieri   Editing
Sergey Rachmaninov   Composer
Kasper van Kooten   Design,Product Manager