Russkaya Cappella Online Festival of Music

Today we're bringing you just one piece - but what a piece! Our friend, supporter and occasional singer Caz has chosen Shostokovich's 5th Symphony, op.47. The version presented here is performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Evgeny Mravinsky, recorded in 1983 in Minsk. Mravinsky conducted the world premiere, in November 1937, so this recording is a direct link to Shostokovich.

Selected by Derek, our Bass Rep, who discovered it by accident on Apple Tunes when he downloaded something else, and became hooked.  This version, with orchestral score, is conducted by Kirill Kondrashin, with the Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra with the RSFSR Academic Russian Chorus.

This lovely piece was suggested by one of our Second Altos, Moira, who also happens to be a Founder Member of the choir. This version performed by Evgeny Kissin and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Hello! Здравствуйте и добро пожаловать! Like everyone else, Russkaya Cappella, Scotland's Russian Choir, has been unable to meet since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We're missing the music and friendship we bring to our weekly rehearsals very much and are rather sad to postpone concerts and other public appearances. While we're sitting at home we thought we could cheer ourselves up by sharing with each other our favourite pieces of Russian music, to remind us of happy times making music together, and provide encouragement for the future.  The brief is simply to share favourite pieces from any genre: liturgical, opera, folksong, symphonies, romances, ballet, chamber music. We would love to hear your suggestions too. To start at the beginning, an Overture to lift the spirits. Glinka's opera Ruslan and Lyudmila (Руслан и Людмила) bubbles with joy and energy. We hope you enjoy our suggestions, and look forward to hearing yours too. Ashley (Social Media Adm...