October 14, 2003
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu

The powerful and beautiful St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Choir will sing a program featuring Rachmaninoff’s Vespers at Our Lady of Sorrows Church

Summary Facts:

• St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Choir
• Performing Rachmaninoff’s Vespers and other sacred music
• The pride and joy of Russian choral music since 1479
• A Chamber Music in Historic Sites® concert
• Tuesday, November 18
• 8 pm / Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Sola and Anacapa Streets
• Pre-show talk about the musical program by Dr. MaryAnn Bonino
• Post-show architecture chat and informal reception
• General: $28, UCSB students: $19
• Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535

The St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Choir, the pride and joy of Russian choral music since 1479, will provide a rare treat for music lovers on Tuesday, November 18 at 8 pm at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Sola and Anacapa Streets. Massively powerful and ethereally beautiful, this 60-person ensemble—performing as part of a North American tour commemorating the 300th anniversary of its namesake city—will sing Rachmaninoff’s stirring Vespers and other sacred music. Le Monde hails the Capella as “one of the most prestigious choirs in all of Europe.”

Known as the Glinka Choir during the Soviet era, St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Choir was established by Tsar Ivan the Terrible and accompanied him wherever he went, even on military campaign. Regarded as the leader in Russian choral music, the Capella is acclaimed for its performances of major choral works by Mozart, Verdi, Beethoven and Haydn, as well as its sterling interpretations of Russian masterworks. It has played a significant role in the former Soviet Union’s cultural renaissance since the early 1990s.

Only since the years of perestroika and under the artistic leadership of Vladislav Chernushenko has the Capella been allowed to reacquaint itself with the stirring Russian sacred repertoire, including arguably the greatest such work, Rachmaninoff’s magnificent Vespers (All-Night Vigil). A passionately spiritual synthesis of the composer’s dazzling harmonies and traditional Byzantine chants of the Russian Orthodox Church, the work was originally written to accompany an all-night liturgy observed on feast day eves. The version performed by the Capella will last approximately 75 minutes and will be followed by other Russian sacred music. The London Times writes, “Hearing a Russian choir again being able to sing this intensely moving, ritualistic choral icon is a breakthrough on a par with the introduction of Baroque instruments into Bach performance.”

Vladislav Chernushenko has been Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Choir since 1974. Prior to this post, Chernushenko founded and led to international acclaim the Leningrad Chamber Choir and worked in the position of second conductor of the Leningrad State Academic Malyi Opera-and-Ballet Theatre (now the Musorgsky Opera Theatre). In 1979 he became Rector of Russia’s first conservatory, the St. Petersburg Conservatoire (founded in 1862), thus uniting under his leadership the two most senior musical institutions in the country.

Prior to the concert, Dr. MaryAnn Bonino will give a talk about the program. In addition to being the president and founder of Chamber Music in Historic Sites®, Bonino is a College Professor at Large at Mount Saint Mary’s College. She created Los Angeles’ highly influential Da Camera Society in 1973. After the concert, the Pearl Chase Society will serve light refreshments at a reception that will feature an architectural chat by historian Christine Palmer.

This concert is the first of four events in UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2003-2004 performing arts season held in local buildings of architectural significance where audiences can experience music in unique and intimate environments. The series will feature The Romeros at Rockwood (Santa Barbara Women’s Club) on Thursday, January 29 and Anonymous 4 performing at two different locations, the First Methodist Church on Friday, April 30 and La Casa de Maria Chapel on Saturday, May 1.

Our Lady of Sorrows Church was built in 1929 and designed by architect Edward A. Eames. Intricately cast stone moldings and capitals inspired by designs of the Spanish Romanesque period lend a medieval feel to this prominent downtown historic church—an inspiring setting for a concert by Russia’s premier vocal ensemble.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents its historic sites series by agreement with Chamber Music in Historic Sites®—a nationally licensed series, Dr. MaryAnn Bonino, president and founder. Thanks to the Pearl Chase Society for its support and to KDB Classical Radio for sponsoring this concert. This residency is funded in part by an organizational development grant using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. Tickets are $28 for the general public and $19 for UCSB students.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.