The Optina Pustyn Male Choir Of St Petersburg - Orthodox Chants From Russia
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 9396-9102 LABEL: ARC EUCD1846 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £4.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
The main goal of male choir of the Optina Pustyn Choir in St Petersburg, established in 1996, is the cultivation of some of the oldest forms of Christian music we can hear today - the old Russian Church singing with it's fascinating sources and styles such as Znamenny, Balgarian, Greek, Bysantine chants, plus the study of the different types of the early Russian polyphony. It goes without saying that they do a magnificent job and to hear these magnificent voices with all their rich, undulating cadences is to enter into a truly other worldly experience. Mainstream world music company ARC Records are to be congratulated on bringing this fascinating Christian tradition to our attention and though I don't speak a word of Russian, ARC have helpfully supplied us with English translations. (I'm currently reading Tolstoy's War And Peace and this wonderfully emotive music is, for me, a wonderful accompaniment). Even if, like me, you've never set foot in a Russian Orthodox Church, this is soul-stirring stuff.
The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.
Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.