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Choral Concert: Exquisite Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil

Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale

May 17-May 18, 2008

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Often praised as Rachmaninoff’s finest achievement, All-Night Vigil (frequently referred to as Vespers) was composed in 1915, just two years before the Russian Revolution, during a period which enjoyed a renaissance of Russian church music. The All-Night Vigil was an immediate success and was performed five times in Moscow in its first month. Rachmaninoff based 10 of the 15 movements on actual Russian chants, and he called the remaining five “conscious counterfeits.” The piece calls for a four-part choir, but within the various movements there is five, six, eight and even 11-part harmony.

The virtuosic nature of Rachmaninoff's choral writing for the Vigil is formidable. But for all of the compositional innovation and technical prowess evident in Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil, what leaves a lasting impression on the listener and performer is the intense expression with which Rachmaninoff imbues the texts of the Vigil. The work encompasses a wealth of moods and emotions, ranging from meditative introspection to praise and proclamation.

SSV Chorale, a volunteer chorus of 90 singers, is part of Symphony Silicon Valley and presents four concert programs each season. Artistic director, Elena Sharkova, is a nationally and internationally recognized conductor, music educator and an expert on Russian music. Sharkova will provide a pre-concert talk about All-Night Vigil.

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• Ticket Info

  Tickets: $20

  Info Phone: 408-286-2600

• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  May 17-May 18, 2008

  Times:
  Sat: 7:30pm
  Sun: 2:30pm

• Venue Info

  Mission Santa Clara

  500 El Camino Real Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA 95053

  Full map and directions

• Accessibility Info

  • Wheelchair Access

• NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate, however it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.