Das Grosse Abend- Und Morgenlob (Vespermesse)/ The Vigil/ Les Vepres Op. 37/ Vier Motetten/ Four Motets/ Quatre Motets

Released in 1975 under the Philips label, this collection presents a significant survey of Russian liturgical choral music, pairing Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 'Vespers' (All-Night Vigil) with four motets by Alexander Kastalsky. The recording features the Bruckner-Mahler Choir of London, conducted by Wyn Morris, an ensemble known for its ambitious repertoire and focus on large-scale Romantic and early 20th-century choral works. This period in the 1970s marked a resurgence of interest in Russian Orthodox liturgical music in the West, moving these compositions from niche academic study into the broader concert and recorded repertoire.

The compositions themselves represent distinct pillars of the Russian choral tradition. Rachmaninoff’s 1915 'All-Night Vigil' is widely regarded as his masterpiece of choral writing, utilizing traditional Znamenny chant melodies within a rich, lush harmonic framework that demands exceptional vocal range and control. Alexander Kastalsky, a contemporary and peer of Rachmaninoff, was a central figure in the Moscow Synodal School, instrumental in revitalizing Russian church music by blending ancient modal melodies with sophisticated choral techniques. The Philips release sought to highlight the dialogue between these two composers, offering listeners a disciplined, atmospheric interpretation of the Eastern Orthodox sound world.