With about a dozen albums to its credit, the French a cappella vocal ensemble Accentus broadens the range of its recorded repertoire with this disc of selections from Rachmaninov's Vespers and Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The group is joined by the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and led by founder Laurence Equilbey. The liturgy was recorded in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of the work in 1910. Under Equilbey's disciplined direction, the groups perform with pure tone, impeccable intonation, and a warm, ...
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With about a dozen albums to its credit, the French a cappella vocal ensemble Accentus broadens the range of its recorded repertoire with this disc of selections from Rachmaninov's Vespers and Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The group is joined by the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and led by founder Laurence Equilbey. The liturgy was recorded in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of the work in 1910. Under Equilbey's disciplined direction, the groups perform with pure tone, impeccable intonation, and a warm, full blend. The Rachmaninov pieces don't make the same kinds of virtuosic demands on choirs as the outrageously difficult arrangements of instrumental pieces on Accentus' two Transcription albums (the first of which won a Grammy) but they require a focus and attention to long, shapely lines that the singers fully deliver. Equilbey provides rhythmic flexibility and a strong feeling of momentum, so the music never bogs down under its weightiness. If there is any criticism of the...
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