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Rachmaninov's All Night Vigil

The Swedish Radio Choir sings Rachmaninov's Vespers at the Baltic Sea Festival, in a concert commemorating the sinking of the MS Estonia in 1994.

The Baltic Sea Festival: The Swedish Radio Choir sings Rachmaninov's Vespers in a concert which commemorated the sinking of the MS Estonia on the night of 28 September 1994 en route from Tallinn to Stockholm. Of the 989 on board, only 137 were rescued alive.
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi completed his ten minute choral piece Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae, “a meditation” shortly afterwards. The work incorporates three texts: the Catholic funeral mass, the Book of Psalm’s hymn 107, and a news broadcast about the accident from Nuntii Latini, a programme that broadcasts world news in classical Latin on Finnish national radio. A soloist from the choir intones the news text against a thundering drone, a wordless melody that is reminiscent of an old sailor’s song, and with the requiem lyrics as the dirge: “May eternal light shine on them, Lord.” Fiery whispers mimic the murmur of the stormy sea, and of the communication radio of MS Estonia that, 29 minutes past midnight, sent its final message. “Have mercy, Lord,” laments the choir.
Presented by Penny Gore.

Anon: Blagoslovi, dusje moja gospoda
Sven-David Sandström: In paradisum
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (1963): Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae
Rachmaninov: Vespers (All-Night Vigil), op. 37

Johan Pejler (bass) and Sofia Niklasson (soprano), Annika Hudak (contralto), Love Tronner (tenor),
Swedish Radio Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor)

1 hour, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Anon.

    Blagoslovi, dusje moja gospoda

    Choir: Swedish Radio Choir. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
  • Sven-David Sandström

    In paradisum for chorus

    Choir: Swedish Radio Choir. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

    Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae for soprano and baritone soloists and chorus

    Singer: Johan Pejler. Singer: Sofia Niklasson. Choir: Swedish Radio Choir. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Vespers (All-night vigil) Op.37 for chorus

    Singer: Annika Hudak. Singer: Love Tronner. Choir: Swedish Radio Choir. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Trisagion for orchestra

    Singer: Maria Listra. Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Feb 2020 14:00