Late-night concert: Rachmaninov Vespers op. 37
Saturday March 16, 21:00
(Doors open at 20:30)
Oslo Cathedral
Adult: 350 NOK
Senior/student: 250 NOK
Child: 100 NOK
Duration: 1 hour
Oslo Cathedral Choir
Bergen Cathedral Choir
Tone Kummervold, alto
Mathias Gillebo, tenor
Kjetil Almenning, conductor
Vivianne Sydnes, conductor
Sergei Rachmaninov’s Vespers Op. 37, also known as the All-Night Vigil, was, incredibly enough, composed in two weeks in January 1915. The work is based on a Church Slavonic text from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, and ten of the fifteen movements are based on the Russian chant used by the Church. The work is technically challenging, with incredible timbres, complex harmonies, a high degree of precision, and a large vocal register. Many have pointed out that Rachmaninov uses the choir almost like an orchestra. Vespers is talked about as his most exquisite composition, and ‘the greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church’. It was also one of the compositions that Rachmaninov himself was the most pleased with. Despite receiving glowing reviews from both audiences and critics, Vespers was rarely performed. The Russian Revolution in 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922, radically changed the conditions for church music. For long periods during the Soviet era, it was therefore not possible to perform the piece. Today, Vespers is an extremely popular and recognised work that is often performed all over the world. During the Church Music Festival, the work is performed by Oslo Cathedral Choir and Bergen Cathedral Choir, in addition to melodies from Ukraine, in an evocative late-night concert.
Photo: Oslo Domkor: Stasevicius, Bergen Domkor: Tuva Åserud, Vivianne Sydnes: Ellen Lande Gossner, Kjetil Almenning: Live Austgard, Tone Kummervold: Lilliand & Lena