Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 Gloriæ Dei Cantores & Peter Jermihov

• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): All-Night Vigil, Op. 37:
• 1 Come, Let Us Worship 03:14
• 2 Bless the Lord, O My Soul 05:38
• 3 Blessed Is the Man 05:45
• 4 Gentle Light 03:44
• 5 Now Lettest Thou Depart 04:44
• 6 Rejoice, Virgin 03:07
• 7 The Lesser Doxology 02:56
• 8 Praise the Name of the Lord 02:47
• 9 Blessed Art Thou, Lord 06:46
• 10 Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ 03:21
• 11 My Soul Magnifies the Lord 10:24
• 12 The Great Doxology 07:43
• 13 Today Salvation Has Come 02:34
• 14 Thou Didst Rise from the Tomb 04:32
• 15 To Thee, the Victorious Leader 02:39
• Total Runtime 01:09:54

Info for Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil, Op. 37

Gloriae Dei Cantores releases All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, conducted by Peter Jermihov (internationally recognized specialist in Russian and Orthodox liturgical music) and produced by Richard K. Pugsley, director of Gloriae Dei Cantores. Expressing their ongoing vision of unity through music, Gloriae Dei Cantores is joined by members of the St. Romanos Cappella, The Patriarch Tikhon Choir, and The Washington Master Chorale. Soloists Dmitry Ivanchenko and Mariya Berezovska, of the National Opera of Ukraine in Kiev join the seventy-seven singers for this landmark collaboration. Vadim Gan, protodeacon under the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church sings the clergy exclamations with Dmitry Ivanchenko. All-Night Vigil was recorded by legendary sound engineer, Keith O. Johnson from Reference Recordings.

"Rachmaninoff submitted the newly-composed score of the All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 for evaluation and correction to his former composition teacher, Sergei Taneev (1856-1915). The esteemed master, known for his critiques and detailed insights, complimented the younger composer and returned the score without a single correction. . . He may have recognized the coming into the world of an extraordinary composition." — From the Program Notes by Peter Jermihov

Beginning in 2014, Richard K. Pugsley, the Gloriae Dei Cantores choir and conductor Peter Jermihov began studying and preparing extensively to record this masterpiece. Gloriae Dei Cantores' is known for their extensive commitment to the vision of the composer and the expression of the text through the music. The search for authenticity, direct empathy with each word and phrase, and the premise of a religious approach were aspirations that prompted and sustained the vision for this project. Rachmaninoff, although not an avid church goer, was, unquestionably, a pious Orthodox Christian. The spiritual and cultural roots of sacred music were ingrained into his consciousness. This recording, and accompanying fifty-two page booklet, explores Rachmaninoff's vision and intention in a work that has become known as the crowning achievement of the Golden age of Russian Orthodox sacred choral music.

As an exchange student in Europe, my first time away from home, I was introduced to a memorable choral experience at St. Petersburg. The voices were around me, powerful, immersive, and the performance deeply moving. The music and its Russian passion has stuck with me. For years, I've designed and built recording equipment to capture the "you are there experience" so important for this musical performance. We recorded this album at The Church of the Transfiguration, in Orleans, MA. This outstanding acoustic space, constructed of solid block materials and designed by one of our very great acousticians helped create the visual acoustic staging and perceptual reality needed for serious involved listening. During the recording and production, everyone was very understanding and supportive and the spiritual connection created by this great choir is memorable." — Keith O. Johnson, Reference Recordings

“Performances are impeccable and deeply moving. This group delivers gorgeous, balanced sound and has completely mastered any technical skill you can name. Their ensemble and dynamic subtlety are second to none.” (American Record Guide)

“Technically brilliant and musically assured.” (Classics Today)

“Exquisite” (Gramophone)

“A quality that lies beyond words.” (Boston Globe)

The Patriarch Tikhon Choir
The Washington Master Chorale
Peter Jermihov, conductor

Gloriae Dei Cantores
(Singers to the Glory of God) holds a passionate dedication to the faithful representation of spiritual and musical authenticity in the choral arts. Sharing its vision of inspiration and hope, the choir has touched the hearts of audiences in twenty-four countries in Europe and Asia, as well as extensive tours and concert series in the United States. The choir's catalog of more than fifty recordings showcases an expansive repertoire, encompassing both masterworks and rarely performed musical treasures from Gregorian chant to the twenty-first century. Richard K. Pugsley and Gloriae Dei Cantores have garnered high praise for bringing lesser- known, yet fully deserving composers and their works to light. The choir makes its home at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans, Massachusetts, where it sings worship services throughout the year.

This album contains no booklet.