Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
All-Night Vigil (Vespers), Op. 37 (1915)
Klara Korkan (mezzo); Konstantin Ognevoi (tenor)
State Academic Russian Choir/Aleksander Sveshnikov
rec. 1965
Reviewed as download
HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS HDTT9865 [66]
I reviewed the Melodiya CD issue of this classic account in 2015 and
refer you that review
for my summary of its manifest virtues.
Harmonically rich and profoundly devotional, this is ageless music which
was hailed as a masterpiece from its premiere over a century ago and
continues to appeals to the depths of the human soul. It is especially
famous for the startling resonance of its bassi profondissimi
descending to a low B flat in the Nunc dimmitis but the whole
choir is phenomenal and the two soloists the best ever for this music;
the tenor has an extraordinarily plaintive, yet powerful, timbre and
the mezzo-soprano is rich-toned and sincere.
The sound has always been somewhat saturated and sibilant but that has
never been a hindrance to appreciating its all-enveloping impact and
comparison with the perfectly acceptable 2008 CD issue reveals that
this new remastering from HDTT lends it greater weight and immediacy
while reducing hiss to the minimum.
Other choirs have recorded estimable versions but in my long experience
of it none has even approached the supremacy of this recording, not
least because those special Russian basses cannot be replicated by other
ethnic groups. There are so many touches which are identifiably idiomatic
and born of long familiarity with the tradition of the music, such as
the way the choir applies ritardandi on each articulation of
“Alliluyia” in Blessed is the Man or in the rhythmic
swing of the Kiev Chant Nunc dimittis.
Every lover of Russian, choral, liturgical music will want this is in
their collection and HDDT offers five download, two DVD Audio and four
physical CD options to suit all pockets with cover art and liner notes
available for download, too. It is a sobering thought that very few,
if any of the performers here will still be on this earth yet in this
one recording they have left a legacy of unearthly beauty.
Ralph Moore
