Created in 1992, at the end of the Soviet era, when freedom of religious expression was once again permitted, the Spiritual Revival Choir of Moscow's Schnittke Institute of Music has a repertoire that understandably deals with the spiritual exultation of religious celebration. Besides music of Russian composers, the Choir's repertoire includes music of the Renaissance and Baroque, Viennese classics, and 18th and 19th-century Romantic masterpieces. Favorites are "The Russian Soil: Chants dedicated to Russian Saints," Tchaikovsky's "Prayer of Repentance for Russia" and "Eucharist from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom," Alexander Arkhangelsky's "I cried out to the Lord," Pavel Chesnokov's "Blessed is the Man" and "The Angel Cried," Nicolai Lebedev's "Funeral Mass," Valery Kikta's "Hymn to the Holy Virgin," and Alfred Schnittke's (founder of the Institute of Music) "Three Sacred Chorales." Tremendous depth, feeling and spirituality comes through the music of the Spiritual Revival Choir, directed by Lev Kontorovich. Beautiful and inspirational! |