Russian Choirs

Founded in 2008, the Yekaterinburg Philharmonic Choir is a noble heir to the rich and powerful Russian choral tradition. For Dijon, they have chosen to illustrate one of the great achievements of Russian liturgical music : the Vespers, or more precisely the All-night vigil, that Rachmaninoff composed for a capella choir in 1915 and premiered the same year for the benefit of war victims. 

Rachmaninoff had long abandoned the orthodox faith, yet he follows the canons of the Russian liturgy to the letter, to raise one his greatest and most accomplished monuments. The resulting score is powerful, homogeneous, of an austerity that yet retains magnificence, calling upon traditional melodies, and attaining a place at the summit of his art.