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Background:

• The piece consists of settings of texts taken from the Russian Orthodox All-night vigil ceremony. An a cappella choral composition composed in less than two weeks in January and February 1915, and premiered on 10 March 1915 in Moscow. It was one of Rachmaninov's two favourite compositions along with The Bells.
• It has been praised as Rachmaninov's finest achievement and the greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church.
• The composer requested that its fifth movement (Nunc dimittis) be sung at his funeral.

Recordings:

• All-Night Vigil ( Arranged for all-male choir by Gretchaninoff, Lazarev and Sheehan).
  Igor Morozov (tenor), Evgeny Kachurovsky (baritone), Alexis V. Lukianov (octavist).
  PaTRAM Institute Male Choir.
  Ekaterina Antonenko.
  Chandos.
  BBC Music Magazine (2024): Choral & Song Choice.

• All-Night Vigil.
  Phoenix Chorale, Kansas City Chorale.
  Charles Bruffy.
  Chandos.
  Grammy Awards (2015): Best Choral Performance.

• All-Night Vigil.
  The Clarion Choir.
  Steven Fox.
  Pentatone.
  Grammy Awards (2024): Nominee Best Choral Performance.

• All-Night Vigil, Op. 37.
  Mariya Berezovska (alto), Dmitry Ivanchenko (tenor).
  Gloriae Dei Cantores, Richard K. Pugsley (director).
  The St. Romanis Cappella, The Patriarch Tikhon Choir, The Washington Master Chorale.
  Peter Jermihov (conductor).
  Paraclete Recordings.

• All-Night Vigil.
  MDR Rundfunkchor.
  Risto Joost (conductor).
  Genuin.
  Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor’s Choice.
  Diapason d’Or (2018): Nouveaute.

• All-Night Vigil.
  Latvian Radio Choir.
  Sigvards Klava.
  Ondine.
  Gramophone Awards (2013): Finalist Choral.
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Disc of the Month.
  Presto Favourites (2013): Recommended Recording.

• Vespers (All-Night Vigil) Op. 37.
  Ory Brown mezzo (soprano) & David Vanderwal (tenor).
  St Thomas Choir of Men & Boys.
  John Scott (conductor).
  Resonus.
  Gramophone Magazine (2016): Editor’s Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (2017): Shortlisted Choral.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.