Hilarion (Alfeyev) (1966-) - De Profundis : Alfeyev / Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Synodal Choir, etc (Hybrid) - Import SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Canadian Brass

Description:

Amazing multi-talented. SACD hybrid disc of orchestral works by the current Prelate Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. The composer himself conducts this collection of compositions by Illarion Alfeev, who is currently the Prelate of the Russian Orthodox Church (the second highest rank after the Patriarch). Alfeev was born in Moscow in 1966. He was appointed Bishop of Austria in 2003 and Archbishop of Volokhovsk in 2009. He has also served as Director of External Relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, and is revered as a living god by the Russian Orthodox faithful. His book "Confidentiality of Faith" has been translated into Japanese.As a composer, his religious works are mainly for unaccompanied chorus, including many Russian chants and the orchestrated "Matthew Passion" (2006), which has been released on CD by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Fedoseyev on the Relief label. His religious choral music is a unique world of piety and piety with the traditional Russian colors of Diletsky and Chesnokov without any modernity. The orchestration is skillful and moving. The five choruses on this disc are all recent works. Stabat Mater" and "From the Deep End," both in Latin, have an intriguing polyphonic style. Lorca's "Song of Death" in Spanish consists of four pieces, and the guitar is very effective. Although not the same poem, one can hear a distant echo of Shostakovich's use of Lorca's poem in his Symphony No. 14, "Song of the Dead. The pure instrumental piece "Concerto Grosso" has a modern flavor, which is unusual for a bishop of Illarion.This one is reminiscent of Schnittke and Silvestrov. The "Fugue on a Motif of BACH" is a fugue on a motif of C-flat-la-de-si, and the high level of compositional technique, which can no longer be called an afterthought of Bishop Illarion's, is astonishing. Bishop Illarion's conducting was superb, with a restrained, yet Russian-style energy reminiscent of Svetlanov. Recommended for Russian Orthodox believers and all Russian music fans. The recording was made in Moscow in April 2014, but it is also noteworthy that only the organ part was recorded and mixed at St. Ludwig's Church in Berlin. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Stabat Mater: Stabat Mater
2.Stabat Mater: Virgo virginum
3.Stabat Mater: Sancta Mater
4.Stabat Mater: Paradisi gloria
5.Concerto grosso: Adagio molto. Allegro
6.Concerto grosso: Adagio
7.Concerto grosso: Finale
8.Fugue on the B-A-C-H Motif
9.Canciones de la muerte: Candil
10.Canciones de la muerte: Cancion de la muerte pequena
11.Canciones de la muerte: Falseta
12.Canciones de la muerte: Gasela de la muerte oscura
13.De profundis: De profundis (Psalmus 129/130)
14.De profundis: Levavi oculos meos in montes (Psalmus 120/121)
15.De profundis: Super Flumina Babylonis (Psalmus 136/137)
16.De profundis: Laudate nomen Domini (Psalmus 134/135)
17.De profundis: Alleluia (Psalmus 148-150)