Sacred Treasures III: Choral Masterworks from Russia and Beyond

Komitas (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Sergey Taneyev (Composer), Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Yosif Ketchakhmadze (Composer), St. Petersburg Chamber Choir (Performer), Irina Arkhipova (Performer), Victor Rumantsev (Performer), Russian State Symphony Cappella (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, Irina Arkhipova, Victor Rumantsev, Russian State Symphony Cappella
• Composer: Komitas, Sergey Rachmaninov, Johann Sebastian Bach, Sergey Taneyev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, et al.
• Audio CD (February 22, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hearts of Space
• ASIN: B00003XB5E
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,750 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #8 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Russia
  • #28 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > General
  • #78 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Vocal & Song > General AAS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow...a total unexpected joy!, February 22, 2000

By 

Ted (Columbia, SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Treasures III: Choral Masterworks from Russia and Beyond (Audio CD)

Its just like the first Sacred Treasures! Just so heavenly! Sacred Treasures I and III are a must! Again the Orthodox faithful sing just like an angelic choir! If you love choral music, this is the one! Just enjoy a piece of heaven!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Buying Just for Track 5!, December 25, 2001

By 

Rebecca M (Somerville, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Treasures III: Choral Masterworks from Russia and Beyond (Audio CD)

Unlike so many "choral compilation" CDs, there is not a track on this album that falls victim to "schlock." Although it is an example of excellent Romantic Russian sacred music, the real highlight of the album is Gunnar Eriksson's ad lib arrangement of Bach's Komm Susser Tod. The Erik Westberg ensemble executes this performance with all the mystery embodied in the text...creating celestial overtones without bordering on New Age. As far as I know, this is the only recording of Eriksson's arrangement.If you like Bach, buy this album. If you like choral music, buy this album. If you like Russian choirs, buy this album. If you want to be spiritually revived, listen to track 5 (and then the rest of the album!)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PURE ECSTASY., September 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sacred Treasures III: Choral Masterworks from Russia and Beyond (Audio CD)

I have a number of choral and chant CD's, and I have to say that this one is my favorite. I think I like it even more than Sacred Treasures I. Sacred music can often seem perfunctory, but the music on this CD doesn't suffer from that problem.

The disc covers a wide cross-section of historically important pieces, from ancient Greek Orthodox chant through the early 20th Century choral masterpieces of Rachmaninov. There's also the added surprise of a modern fantasy setting of Bach's Apollonian masterpiece "Komm Susser Tod" ("Come Sweet Death") by Scandinavian composer Gunnar Eriksson. And the Komitas-penned "Sourp Sourp" (Holy Holy) might be the most beautiful song I've ever heard.

The sacred music from Russia has always held a special place for me. If you haven't heard Russian sacred music and want to dip your toe in the water, you owe it to yourself to get this CD (and Sacred Treasures I). Warm and serene, this music glows.