I raved about the Kansas CIty/Phoenix Choirs' "Passion Week" SACD in Stereophile

Posted by John Marks (M) on March 28, 2015 at 09:03:02

In Reply to: Just Discovered Composer ALEXANDER GRETCHANINOV posted by John C. - Aussie on March 27, 2015 at 20:09:16:

Quote from Stereophile begins:

That, at least, is what I take away from Gretchaninov's Passion Week, remarkably well performed by the combined forces of the Phoenix Bach Choir and the Kansas City Chorale under their director, Charles Bruffy, on a tremendously well-recorded SACD/CD (Chandos CHSA 5044). The opening track, Behold the Bridegroom, is simply one of the most impressive bits of choral singing I have ever heard. And the recording is near-flabbergasting; the soundstage depth extends into the next zip code. The balance between direct sound and hall ambience appears to be perfect (the venue was Kansas City's Church of the Blessed Sacrament). Vocal ensemble-creamy and seamless, tuning, pitch security, breath control-is otherworldly. The combined choral forces number 52; that 15 of them are basses becomes apparent only minutes in. (I assume that, when Gretchaninov wrote Passion Week, the high parts would have been sung by boys. This recording has women singing the high parts, sweetly and smoothly.) All in all, an amazing recording, either to focus on or to let just wash over you (footnote 1).

Quote ends.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Just Discovered Composer ALEXANDER GRETCHANINOV - John C. - Aussie 20:09:16 03/27/15 (16)

Christoff - Mali 17:50:04 04/01/15 (0)

No one has mentioned his songs, which are lovely (YT) - vinyl phanatic 09:30:29 03/31/15 (1)

Piano Works too. . . - Chris from Lafayette 16:59:49 03/31/15 (0)

Hey - I'll see your Gretchaninov and raise you a Maximilian Steinberg - Chris from Lafayette 11:01:53 03/30/15 (0)

I have CD's of some of his chamber works... - krisjan 10:52:23 03/28/15 (0)

I raved about the Kansas CIty/Phoenix Choirs' "Passion Week" SACD in Stereophile - John Marks 09:03:02 03/28/15 (5)

Gorgeous sound but boring music - madisonears 01:21:19 03/29/15 (3)

Intended to be sung over entire week, not listened to in one sitting [nt] - Amphissa 08:45:21 03/29/15 (0)

I think the problem is context... - John Marks 06:28:40 03/29/15 (1)

Good points, both of you - madisonears 13:26:09 03/29/15 (0)

I love Russian composers, but ... - Amphissa 14:38:34 03/28/15 (0)

RE: Just Discovered Composer ALEXANDER GRETCHANINOV - Pat D 21:17:16 03/27/15 (4)

I subsequently sampled one of his symphonies and ... - John C. - Aussie 23:18:59 03/27/15 (2)

RE: I subsequently sampled one of his symphonies and ... - Pat D 12:24:08 03/28/15 (0)

RE: I subsequently sampled one of his symphonies and ... - Chuck Y 08:12:44 03/28/15 (0)

The four G's of Russian Music: Glinka, Glazunov, Gliere and Gretchaninov [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 22:09:03 03/27/15 (0)

Follow Ups

I raved about the Kansas CIty/Phoenix Choirs' "Passion Week" SACD in Stereophile - John Marks 09:03:02 03/28/15 (5)

Gorgeous sound but boring music - madisonears 01:21:19 03/29/15 (3)

Intended to be sung over entire week, not listened to in one sitting [nt] - Amphissa 08:45:21 03/29/15 (0)

I think the problem is context... - John Marks 06:28:40 03/29/15 (1)

Good points, both of you - madisonears 13:26:09 03/29/15 (0)

I love Russian composers, but ... - Amphissa 14:38:34 03/28/15 (0)

I raved about the Kansas CIty/Phoenix Choirs' "Passion Week" SACD in Stereophile

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