There are many very lovely sounds throughout this work, and those who appreciate Orthodox church music will find much to enjoy here. It makes ideal late-night listening, but it will also repay close study. The performance is spectacularly successful. Short paces the score superbly and his singers are with him at every turn." International Record Review, May 2013

"Written after a powerful spiritual experience, Alexander Levine's 2006 setting of Russian Orthodox liturgy appears old and new at the same time. Soaring,ecstatic, and gorgeously performed." BBC Music Magazine, September 2013

"This is singing of a very high order. They bring a quiet beauty of tone to the more reflective moments, which carries over into other parts of the work and their contribution to the sheer radiance of the performance is significant … Levine manages to sustain an intensity of feeling and radiance which comes over superbly in this performance." March 2013, Robert Hugill

"Those whose interest in Orthodox music was awakened by John Tavener may well enjoy this further and deeper exploration and all who appreciate fine choral singing will applaud Nigel Short and Tenebrae." Cross Rhythms, 8 out of 10, April 2013

Tenebrae has already recorded another substantial work by Russian composer Alexander Levine (b.1955), Prayers for Mankind. They understand his soundworld and this makes for a polished and convincing rendering. Those listeners who, like me, have spent hours absorbing Orthodox divine liturgy settings by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Tavener will find much to savour here. The language is tonal, often gentle and sustained, but always contrasted, deeply expressive of the sacred texts, and consistently rewarding, interpreted through the vibrato-free yet appropriately sonorous timbre of Tenebrae.

Choir & Organ, Matthew Power

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rec. 13-15 February 2012, St. Augustine’s Church, Highbury, London. DDD