Cappella Amsterdam and Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam - Schnittke en Rachmaninov
The twelve Penitential Psalms by Alfred Schnittke go to the marrow and bone. Appropriate for choral music to 16th century Russian texts about penance as punishment for sins committed. Schnittkes bare tone focuses on the text. The moment God is invoked in the text, the baldness gives way to a soothing warmth, as if the sun suddenly breaks through.
Cappella Amsterdam and Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam - Schnittke en Rachmaninov
Choral music that goes through the marrow and bone
Together with Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam, Cappella Amsterdam also sings three movements from Rachmaninov's monumental Vespers , which he based on old Russian Orthodox melodies. Beforehand, the youth choir of Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam will sing Rachmaninov's Six choral works for high voices and piano. The composer wrote the work for the Mariinsky girls' school in Saint Petersburg. This performance of Nieuw Vocal Amsterdam is therefore closely in line with the composer's intention.