Rachmaninoff: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Op. 31

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This recording may well consolidate its place in the repertoire, for it's a triumph. Compared with the Vigil the writing is generally sober, though there are unforgettable moments such as the... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 1st Mar 2004
Catalogue No: 5576772
Label: Warner Classics
Length: 75 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

June 2004

Editor's Choice

Rachmaninoff: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Work length1:15:00

$23.00

$29.90

Choir of King's College Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury
Recorded: 2003-07-11
Recording Venue: 7th-11th July 2003, King's College Chapel, Cambridge

I. Blessing...Great Litany

Track length6:10

$1.00

$1.30

II. First Antiphon

Track length3:10

$1.00

$1.30

III. Small Litany

Track length1:39

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Second Antiphon

Track length2:17

$1.00

$1.30

V. Small Litany

Track length1:41

$1.00

$1.30

VI. Third Antiphon

Track length5:08

$1.00

$1.30

VII. Little Entrance

Track length1:19

$1.00

$1.30

VIII. Trisagion

Track length1:49

$1.00

$1.30

IX. Cherubic Hymn

Track length4:46

$1.00

$1.30

X. Litany of Supplication

Track length5:41

$1.00

$1.30

XI. The Creed

Track length6:50

$1.00

$1.30

XII. Mercy and Peace

Track length4:47

$1.00

$1.30

XIII. We praise you

Track length2:44

$1.00

$1.30

XIV. Hymn to the Mother of God

Track length2:27

$1.00

$1.30

XV. (...First of all, remember, Lord)

Track length1:48

$1.00

$1.30

XVI. The Lord's Prayer

Track length5:37

$1.00

$1.30

XVII. One is Holy

Track length1:49

$1.00

$1.30

XVIII. Communion Verse

Track length2:01

$1.00

$1.30

IXX. Communion of the Faithful

Track length2:30

$1.00

$1.30

XX. Let our mouths be filled

Track length3:31

$1.00

$1.30

XXI. Small Litany

Track length2:18

$1.00

$1.30

XXII. Blessed is the Name of the Lord

Track length0:46

$1.00

$1.30

XXIII. Dismissal and Blessing

Track length4:12

$1.00

$1.30

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

This recording may well consolidate its place in the repertoire, for it's a triumph. Compared with the Vigil the writing is generally sober, though there are unforgettable moments such as the opening of the Second Antiphon, which allows the boys' crystalline tone to shine. In fact, the King's choir make a virtue of an apparent limitation, producing an astounding choral blend in the simple responses of the litanies that punctuate the Liturgy.
The most famous section of the work is the lovely Lord's Prayer, movingly sung with fine attention to detail. Other sections, such as the Beatitudes ought also to attract the attention of any discerning choir director. Only in the Creed do the choir slightly lose the spring in their step; perhaps inevitable with such a lengthy setting in an unfamiliar language.
The great majority of the priest's and deacon's intonations have been included. This makes sense of the whole, and proves, if it needed proving, that Rachmaninov knew all about liturgical pacing.
This aspect of the recording benefits from the magnificent bass and fluent Slavonic of Protodeacon Peter Scorer, who has the lion's share. If Deacon Tobias Sims, singing the celebrant's parts, can't entirely disguise his English origins, the contrast between the two voices also helps convey the liturgical feeling. There are excellent booklet-notes by Archimandrite Kyril Jenner.

Rachmaninoff: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Op. 31

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