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CD Details: Basso Profondo from Old Russia: Popular and Sacred Russian Songs

Cat. no. D062 Date Listed ?		Title:	Basso Profondo from Old Russia: Popular and Sacred Russian Songs
		Performers:	"The Orthodox Singers" Male Choir
		Conductor:	Georgy Smirnov
		Recording Type / Total Time:	DDD /
		Label and Number:	Saison Russe RUS 288 158
		Issue Date:	1998
		Price:	$0.00 TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK
		Rating:	**

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REVIEW
The liner notes concede that "it's always difficult to find logical explanations for a passion, and the Russian people truly have a passion for the basso profundo..." Indeed, that passion is not only explored, but exploited in this recording. The selections consist of works for basso soloist and choir, along with choral settings with lower octave or octavist doublings, mostly from the sacred music repertoire. The latter blatantly feature the octavists, as if someone had fooled with and turned up the maximum bass level on the stereo. Such singing makes a parody of the basso and trivializes the music. In other tracks, the basso soloists simply astound us with how low they can sing, again diverting our attention from the actual music and text. There is one important exception, however. The three intonations by Protodeacon Andrey Papkov are profoundly reverent and beautifully sung. Papkov, an experienced musician and celebrant, has a focused, ringing voice -- warm and full, but in no way dark or forced. Rather than showing-off his great talent, his liturgical artistry brings the listener closer to the sacred text and essence of the setting. The liner notes and translations are in E, F, and G.—M. B.

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