Icon Russia August 2014

This release from the Latvian Radio Choir, conducted by Sigvards Kłava, features timeless choral works by three composers from Russia and Latvia: Yuri Falik, Artūrs Maskats and Georgy Sviridov. These 20th and 21st century choral works present the profound and sacred, which is to be found and enjoyed in many areas of our lives, from nature and the seasons to personal relationships and love. The Latvian Choir’s previous release on Ondine – Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil – was chosen as ‘Record of the Month’ for Gramophone Magazine and also received a nomination for ‘best choral disc’ in the 2013 Gramophone Awards. The Latvian Radio Choir is considered one of the best chamber choirs in Europe.

The Russian Orthodox Novodevichy Convent, dedicated to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, was founded in 1524. According to UNESCO, Novodevichy is the best known convent in Moscow, and in 2004 was proclaimed to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 1989 recording features the choir of the Dormition Church of the Novodevichy Convent under the direction of Hegumen Petr Polyakov. The album is dedicated to the great jubilee of the Millennium of Baptism of Russia, which celebrated a thousand years of Christianity in Russia.