Two of Britain’s finest collegiate choirs join forces and cross a continent to take on the sublime expressiveness of Rodion Shchedrin’s ‘Russian liturgy’, an astonishing statement of faith composed in the early days of perestroika. Shchedrin’s choral tableaux juxtapose tenderness with bracing sonic impact, and are shadowed throughout by the plangent voice of a solo oboe representing the soul of the Russian people. This ground-breaking choral partnership committed the work to disc following acclaimed UK premiere concert performances at the Spitalfields and Oundle festivals in the summer of 2008. 'The music really comes alive ... superb performances' – Church Music Quarterly, September 2007 'The choir of Gonville & Caius show themselves once again as one of Cambridge's most accomplished' – Gramophone