Bavarian Radio Chorus / Peter Dijkstra

With his masterfully composed Vespers Liturgy for choir a cappella, Rachmaninov transports the listener into a musical world of admirable depth and inwardness. Inspired by old modes, he created one of his most beautiful works. The »All-Night Vigil«, composed in 1915 for a benefit concert in Moscow in aid of war victims, takes up the fascinating tradition of Orthodox chants and reflects it profoundly. At the same time, Rachmaninov created a musical monument to his childhood memories and the religious soul of his homeland – a homeland he would soon leave. Rachmaninov himself described listening to his vesper liturgy as »an hour of the happiest satisfaction«.

PERFORMERS

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks choir

Krzysztof Michalski violoncello

Peter Dijkstra conductor

PROGRAM

Benjamin Britten
Suite No. 3 for Violoncello Op. 87 (excerpts)

Sergej Rachmaninow
Ganznächtliche Vigil op. 37