One of an extensive series of box sets presenting the greatest, most famous and best-loved choral masterworks of western music, encompassing more than 700 years of musical history, from the Flemish masters Josquin and Ockeghem, through the mastery of Bach, the grace of Mozart, the romantics Brahms and Mendelssohn to 20th century masters Britten and Rutter.

Beautifully repackaged with fresh and inspirational artwork, this is a highly attractive series.

In this set is a fine conspectus of the Russian choral tradition - its ancient hymns and offices, given new and rich harmonic robes by great Russian composers, and sung by ensembles who have this music in their blood, as indeed they must if its peculiar timbres are to make their haunting effect upon the listener. Clouds of incense swirl around our listening room as we are transported back centuries – whether two or ten – to a style of worship in which beauty is offered to God as an end in itself.

Contents:
CD 1
Sergei Rachmaninov: Vespers Op.37
1. Come, let us worship
2. Bless the Lord, O my Soul
3. Blessed be the Man
4. O serene Light
5. Now let Thy Servant depart
6. Rejoice, O Virgin
7. Glory to God in the Highest
8. Praise the Name of the Lord
9. Blessed art Thou, O Lord
10. Having seen the Resurrection of the Lord
11. My Soul magnifies the Lord
12. Glory to God in the Highest
13. Troparia of the Day of Salvation
14. Christ is risen from the grave
15. Thanksgiving to the Mother of God
Olga Borusene (soprano), Yuri Korinnyk (tenor), Mykhaylo Tyshchenko (tenor)
National Academic Choir of Ukraine / Yevhen Savchuk

CD 2
Sergei Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Op.31
1. Great Ektenia
2. First Antiphon
3. Second Antiphon
4. Third Antiphon
5. Entrance Hymn
6. Trisagion Hymn
7. Fervent Supplication
8. Cheruvimic Hymn
9. Ektenia of the Prothesis
10. Nicaean Creed
Russian State Symphony Capella / Valery Polyansky

CD 3
Sergei Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Op.31
1. Anaphora
2. Hymn of Praise
3. Hymn to the Virgin
4. The Lord’s Prayer
5. The Elevation
6. Communion Hymn
7. Blessing
8. Hymn of Praise
9. Blessed be His Name
10. Glory to the Father

11. O Mother of God vigilantly praying
Sacred Concerto for 4-part unaccompanied choir
12. Chorus of Spirits for 4-part unaccompanied choir
13. Panteley the Healer for 4-part unaccompanied choir
Russian State Symphony Capella / Valery Polyansky

CD 4
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Op.41
1. Lord, have mercy
2. Glory be to the Father
3. O come, let us worship
4. Alleluia
5. Glory be to Thee
6. Hymn of the Cherubim
7. Lord, have mercy
8. The Creed
9. The mercy of peace
10. We sing Thee
11. It is meet
12. Amen, and with Thy spirit
13. Our Father
14. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens
15. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord
National Academic Choir of Ukraine / Yevhen Savchuk

CD 5
Alexander Gretchaninov: Vespers Liturgy Op.59
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul
2. Blessed is the man
3. O gladsome radiance
4. Rejoice Virgin Mother of God
5. Praise ye the name of the Lord
6. Proparia of Resurrection
7. Since my youth onwards
8. Christ’s Resurrection
9. Great Doxology
10. Thanksgiving to the Mother