Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev is one of the most widely performed of all living Russian composers. Each of his new compositions constitutes a milestone in contemporary musical history. His ability to imbue his music with profound religious content, to unite diverse cultures and styles, to invent new ways of musical expression while remaining faithful to the centuries-old classical tradition, and to utter most profound themes using a simple and comprehensible musical language, singles him out among present-day composers.

His most widely performed work, the St Matthew Passion (2006), has received worldwide recognition. Following its premiere in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in March 2007, it has been performed more than seventy times in different countries by the most distinguished soloists, choirs and orchestras. Invariably it receives standing ovations from audiences at each concert.

This SACD features five works by Metropolitan Hilarion that were produced over a thirty-year period and performed by the excellent Russian National Orchestra. As the first Russian orchestra to ever win a Grammy award, the orchestra demonstrates a superior performance in this recording.

As the Moscow Times once positioned it - “RNO played with a power, beauty and finesse currently unmatched by any other Moscow orchestra”.