Established in 1983, the Russian Patriarchate Choir, under the direction of Anatoly Grindenko, has established an international reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of early Russian liturgical chant. Over the span of two decades, they released 13 outstanding CDs on the now-defunct French label Opus 111, but in recent years, their recordings have been largely unavailable. We are delighted therefore to be able to offer the present recording for downloading under license from the artists. The present CD is a true retrospective anthology, containing all the various styles the Choir has mastered over their illustrious career, from early chant and znamenny polyphony, to Baroque partesny polyphony, to works by 18th- and 19th-century masters of sacred music; the final eight tracks are devoted to secular folk songs, including urban folk songs and Cossack songs. Whether you are already a fan of the Russian Patriarchal Choir or missed getting to know them when they were actively recording, this is a CD you will not want to miss. (The download contains the full booklet and digipak, together with titles in Russian and English and English text translations.--V.M.
