Reviewed by Simon Carpenter

If you find our local brand of cathedral music beautiful but a bit too other worldly and not earthy enough, this is for you. In this selection of liturgical items taken from the general repertoire of the Russian Orthodox Church, fervency and raw faith shine through every note. The sleevenotes say that the all male choir "has continued to flourish, under great difficulties in Russian churches" and that struggle is certainly evident in the music which was all recorded before the recent collapse of communism. Today, with the current relaxation of the restrictions on religious worship, they are experiencing a renaissance: I hope they don't lose that fervent edge.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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