In honor of Mother's Day this past weekend, please enjoy this stunning recording by Robert Shaw of Bogoroditse Devo from Rachminoff's Vespers.
The Robert Shaw Festival Singers was one of the great choirs formed by the legendary Robert Shaw late in his career. The chorus is a fluctuating group of singers composed of a mix of professional trained singers, conductors, teachers, and other music professionals.
This piece is often recognized as one of the greatest choral sacred pieces of all time. Surprisingly, given Rachmaninoff's stature as an orchestral and piano composer, the Vespers are viewed as possibly his finest compositions for any genre.
In this recording, the chorus is simultaneously both lyrical in the melodic lines as well as poignant in its colors and harmonies. The beauty of the soprano melody is supplemented wonderfully by the interior moving parts by the tenors and altos. The power of the basses does not overwhelm this wonderful structure but, rather, enhances the sheer spirituality of this wonderful piece.
We're very fortunate to be performing this piece in our concert in Oakland on Sunday, August 3. Hope to see you there!