Summa This, Summa That
In the past few days, as part of #MyLentInMusic project, I have spoken of my attachment to the wonderful work of Charles Bruffy and his Chorales — both Phoenix and Kansas City.
What I have not yet spoken of (but which is no less true) is my attachment to the wonderful (and wonderfully Lenten) All-Night Vigil of Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff. It’s filled with wonderful music, but I’ll call especial attention to the sublime Bogoroditse Devo (Rejoice, O Virgin), which is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Brings me to tears every time. (Yes, the fact that its performance is just about the only thing I can remember clearly from the wonderful haze of my wedding probably has something to do with the waterworks. But it was true before.)
So, in short, I love Bruffy. And the Vigil. Which makes the email that arrived from Naxos Music last night a real bombshell:
We’re very excited to announce that Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil is streaming for free on iTunes Radio!
Listen now right here…
The Grammy-Award-winning conductor Charles Bruffy brings together his two professional choirs, the Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale, for this recording of Serge Rachmaninoff’s All-night Vigil, a work that stands as the crowning achievement of the ‘Golden Age’ of Russian Orthodox sacred choral music. The Phoenix Chorale and Kansas City Chorale are regarded as among the finest professional choral ensembles in the world. Their recordings have earned a combined total of ten GRAMMY® nominations and four wins.
Here. Try it for yourself.
The Phoenix Chorale’s website added this interesting tidbit:
This is the first time a choral album has been featured and only the second classical music album ever featured on iTunes Radio.
I’ve been listening all morning, and it’s spectacular. Stunning. Just…transcendent.
There are no words, really. Other than to say that it’s so good, it’s worth acquiring the impossible behemoth that is iTunes just so you can listen. Even those of you who have previously (and wisely) avoided that languidly chaotic program/headache/digital molasses should download it. You can always extract yourself afterwards, once you’ve bought the actual CD next week. And it’s worth it. Really. (Even the jarringly loud introduction of ads between tracks can’t dampen my enthusiasm. It’s that good.)
If you never, ever listen to a single thing I recommend but you listen to this one, I will be content.
Attribution(s): Album artwork is the property of Chandos Records and all respective creators and/or distributors.
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