Song for Athene - Svyati and other Choral Works [CD]

Since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, John Tavener's simple and powerful Song for Athene has been recorded umpteen times and has thus become an excellent standard by which to judge all the choirs who have attempted it. The version by the Choir of Kings College Cambridge is hyper-sophisticated with plenty of vibrato from the boys; the Choir of New College Oxford recording is smoothly buttery and breathy; and the version here from the Choir of St John's College Cambridge (while slightly less accurate than the other two) is urgent and driven. The acoustic of the St John's Chapel is a tad less resonant than some of the other collegiate chapels, and contributes to the harder edge of the choir's sound, but it also focuses attention on the choir as a collection of individual voices in a way which is thrillingly unique. Here they are on excellent form, and approach Tavener's blend of cathedral mysticism and Eastern chant with an English sense of drama. The mix is alluring and makes for an attractive Tavener compilation. --Warwick Thompson

The Christmas Proclamation, God is with us, is the striking first item in this collection of John Tavener's shorter choral pieces. It was inspired, like so many of Tavener's works, by Greek Orthodox liturgy, rising in thrilling crescendo and punctuated at the end by fortissimo organ chords. The Song for Athene is here presented as an anthem rather than a processional. The longest work, Svyanti, with its cello solo magnetically played by Tim Hugh, echoes the example of Tavener's visionary cello work The Protecting Veil, while the shorter pieces include most of the favourite Taverner items. Superb singing throughout and vividly atmospheric sound. **** --Penguin Guide, January 2009

A collection of Christmas and other choral pieces.