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BIS

Rachmaninoff: Vespers / Putniņš, Netherlands Radio Choir

$21.99

Details

Composer
RACHMANINOV, SERGEI
Artist
Putnins
Format
SACD
Label
BIS
Released
Apr 29, 2014
Catalog #
BIS-SACD-2039
UPC
7318599920399

About

Rachmaninoff’s All-night Vigil - sometimes erroneously referred to as his Vespers – is in fact a hybrid of three Russian Orthodox services; Vespers (movements 1 to 6), Matins (7 to 14) and First Hour (15). There have been a number of well-regarded recordings of the piece in recent years, two of which spring to mind: the first is from Sigvards Klava and the Latvian Radio Choir, the second from Paul Hillier and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Those are fine Baltic ensembles, expertly led, and their collections are always worth your time and money. Besides, they tend to get top-notch recordings, too.

The Netherlands Radio Choir, founded after the Second World War, is a 68-strong group with a number of world premières to their name. That makes them a good fit with Kaspars Putniņš, chief conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, who is a tireless promoter of contemporary choral works. That said, his repertoire is wide-ranging, so Rachmaninoff is well within his artistic purview. Incidentally, this recording includes a filler, The Theotokos, Ever-Vigilant in Prayer, which Rachmaninoff composed in 1893. A precursor to the Vigil in style it burns with a quick, fierce flame. An intriguing little bonus.

First impressions of Putninš’ Vigil are entirely positive. The bass and tenor soloists – Gert-Jan Alders and Matthew Minter respectively – are ideally spaced at the start of O come let us worship, and the choir’s response is both refined and radiant. The alto Pierrette de Zwaan – who appears in Praise the Lord, O my soul – is just as ravishing, the choral cadences gentle but telling. Goodness, this is singing of the highest order; weight and blend are well nigh perfect, as is the open, airy sound. This may be a studio recording, but there’s breadth and depth aplenty, with no obscuring echoes. Indeed, the ‘goose-bump quotient’ is very high, even at this early stage.

Minor caveats aside, this is a splendid account of Rachmaninoff's masterpiece. The Dutch bring emotional intensity to the Vigil; you must hear it.

– MusicWeb International (Dan Morgan)

Tracklist 16 tracks

  1. 1 Beginning song: Come let us worship 02:40
    Track
    1
    Title
    Beginning song: Come let us worship
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Matthew Minter, Gert-Jan Alders
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  2. 2 Psalm 103 (104), "O praise the Lord" 04:05
    Track
    2
    Title
    Psalm 103 (104), "O praise the Lord"
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Pierrette de Zwaan
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  3. 3 Blessed is the man 04:09
    Track
    3
    Title
    Blessed is the man
    Duration
    04:09
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  4. 4 O Joyful Light 02:45
    Track
    4
    Title
    O Joyful Light
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eyjolfur Eyjolfsson
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  5. 5 Song of Simeon: Lord, now let your servant depart 03:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    Song of Simeon: Lord, now let your servant depart
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eyjolfur Eyjolfsson
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  6. 6 Hail, O Virgin Mother (Ave Maria) 02:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    Hail, O Virgin Mother (Ave Maria)
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  7. 7 Hexapsalms: Glory to God on high 02:09
    Track
    7
    Title
    Hexapsalms: Glory to God on high
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  8. 8 Psalm 134-135 (135-136), "O praise the name of the Lord" 02:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    Psalm 134-135 (135-136), "O praise the name of the Lord"
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  9. 9 Glorifying song of the Resurrection: Teach me O lord in the way of truth 05:56
    Track
    9
    Title
    Glorifying song of the Resurrection: Teach me O lord in the way of truth
    Duration
    05:56
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Matthew Minter
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  10. 10 Hymn of Resurrection: We have seen the resurrection 02:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    Hymn of Resurrection: We have seen the resurrection
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  11. 11 Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord 06:21
    Track
    11
    Title
    Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
    Duration
    06:21
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  12. 12 Great Doxology: Glory be to God on high 06:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    Great Doxology: Glory be to God on high
    Duration
    06:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  13. 13 Resurrection hymn (Troparion): This day of salvation has come to the world 01:38
    Track
    13
    Title
    Resurrection hymn (Troparion): This day of salvation has come to the world
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  14. 14 Resurrection hymn (Troparion): When you had risen 02:48
    Track
    14
    Title
    Resurrection hymn (Troparion): When you had risen
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  15. 15 Thanksgiving hymn of Virgin Mary: O victorious leader 01:25
    Track
    15
    Title
    Thanksgiving hymn of Virgin Mary: O victorious leader
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš
  16. 16 V molitvakh neusipayushchuyu bogoroditsu (In our Prayers, Ever-vigilant Mother of God) 07:52
    Track
    16
    Title
    V molitvakh neusipayushchuyu bogoroditsu (In our Prayers, Ever-vigilant Mother of God)
    Duration
    07:52
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Ensemble
    Netherlands Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš