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|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
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 Good, but not truly RUSSIAN Sep 01, 2008
As all agree this is beautifully sung, beautifully recorded and very well conducted. Only serious fault is up to none of the above. The magic of Russian liturgical music is not really there, despite the best of efforts. Noone can blame professional US bass singers for not sounding like Russian basses. Only problem: Once you have heard real top-of-the-line Russian basses, no substitute will do in this repertoire. Also in the best of Russian tradition passion and heartfelt expression always win over egality and even sometimes pitching in the top registers. It is heart-rendering religious praise without much in the way of intellectual filtering. This, as I have witnessed at many international choral competitions and festivals often make Russian choirs unable to deliver convincing versions of Western European music. How different the fervour and freedom of tone when they turn to repertoire like the one recorded here. Having experienced the spine-chilling effect and fullness of tone on such occasions, recordings like this one are a bleak substitute, no matter its many virtues.
It doesn't get better than this. Mar 31, 2008
Another great recording by the combined forces from Phoenix and Kansas city. Can't add much to what's already been said, except the SACD in Multi-channel (surround) mode adds a great deal to the spatial quality so important for this kind of singing. Check out the other Gruffy recording reviews at Amazon.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Not only good, but award-winning Feb 11, 2008
Other reviewers have done very well in conveying how fantastic this recording is. I just wanted to mention that the appreciation is shared on an awards level: This album won a Grammy, for classical engineering. The sound is fantastic, the voices are superb and the music is top of the line. Even if you're just testing the waters of this genre of music, this is a fantastic place to begin. Congratulations to all the artists involved in this album, and thanks for the fantastic album.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Fabulous! But buy it direct from the Chorale. Dec 20, 2007
This is a wonderful recording. One tip: You can purchase it more cheaply directly from the Chorale ... Go to www.kcchorale.org
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Refreshingly Traditional Russian Liturgical Music Jul 30, 2007
This is almost a perfect album for fans of Russian choral music. Apparently forgotten for nearly a century, Passion Week is remarkable for its beautiful sounds and delightful bits of innovation. If the Soviets had allowed this style to evolve, Grechaninov would undoubtedly have been hailed as a national treasure.
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![Grechaninov: Passion Week [SACD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tV+ntwg7L._SL160_.jpg "Grechaninov: Passion Week [SACD]")
