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John Miller's review is spot on. I have been listening to this recording via a hi-rez streaming service and just ordered a copy of the SACD. On my first hearing the performance sounded shockingly slow compared to other recordings I have heard (Rachmaninov: Vespers, All-night Vigil - Hillier, Rachmaninov: Vespers - Eric-Olof Soderstrom, Sveshnikov/USSR State Academic Choir/Melodiya) This slowness yields some otherworldly effects though - many phrases seem to continue for an eternity without breath. While the bass section may not have the same character or strength found with Eastern European choirs, they sound more audible to me than in any of the above performances. The relative size of the section and recording technique may have something to do with this. So this performance while not being definitive is definitely one you will want to hear. The F1 and Bflat1 notes John references are actually F2 and Bflat2 - still staggeringly low for most basses (I sing bass in a community chorus and my attempts - even the early-morning ones - to gravel out the descending B flat minor scale are not very successful).
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This is a terrific performance and recording, IMO the best of the "non-Russian" variety overall and the best among 5.0 multichannel versions.
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ClassicalDJ said:
" The F1 and Bflat1 notes John references are actually F2 and Bflat2 - still staggeringly low for most basses (I sing bass in a community chorus and my attempts - even the early-morning ones - to gravel out the descending B flat minor scale are not very successful)."
Thanks for spotting typos - have corrected my review.
John
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