Concert by the Metropolitan Chorus of Priests of St. Petersburg that will play the suite of Rachmaninov’s Vespers and the sacred and popular music of the Russian tradition.

Here from Russia, the ecclesiastical choir of St. Petersburg performs Rachmaninoff’s Vespers and sacred and popular music from the Russian tradition.

This year, the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Choir will perform for the first time at the Meeting. The choir is made up of 40 monks. The musical program, consisting of sacred and popular music, will contain the suite from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, one of the all-time masterpieces of sacred music, composed in 1915 and considered by many critics as Rachmaninoff’s most inspired work.
The choir, which was born in 1971 as a consequence of the work of the Metropolitan Nicodemus, involves the clergy of the Archdiocese of Leningrad, and still maintains musical characteristics unique to its genre. Immediately after its formation, the choir went on hiatus, as the priests had to abandon it in order to respond to the needs of the parishes in Russia.
The choir was revived in 1988, following the blessing received from the Metropolitan Alexios, future Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia. After this event, the choir participated in the celebration of 1,000 years of Christianity in Russia, performing at the famous Kirov (now Mariinsky) Theater. Directed by Deacon Pavel Guerasimov, the choir performed for many years at important festival celebrations and international gatherings, as well as traveled to various nations and cities on its own tour.
The choir celebrated 40 years of activity in November 2011. On this occasion, the Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk was invited to give the welcoming speech.
“The ecclesiastical choir is a piece of sacred music from all of our diocese, and we are certain that the singers in the St. Petersburg choir are among the best in our Church. Music is one of the most powerful instruments capable of influencing the heart of man. This is why its role is crucial in the Testament of our Church” (from the speech made by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk for the anniversary of the St. Petersburg Ecclesiastical Choir on November 1, 2011).
(Giovanna Parravicini)