Saint-Petersburg male choir "Hermitage" is staying with Lindehus, Turbentale
When a Boer lad speaks Russian
Residents and many guests of the rest home "Lindehus" in Turbentale will keep joyful and harmonious memories of the six singers of Saint-Petersburg male choir "Hermitage" who appeared there in daytime on Tuesday on October 29, 1996. They were invited by the Rest Home and Vila Reformist Church Society.
Parson Markus Fessler also greeted the expectant audience in the hall. He said it was the first time that the group of six professional musicians had been on tour in Switzerland.
Singing Prayers from the Heart
Each time Markus Fessler prepared the audience with the relevant Bible texts in order to understand the orthodox church chants.
"Praise God, my soul" is a chant based upon Psalm 103. A mild beginning provides a chance to feel immediately a superb quality in the six singers' voices. The hall was filled with melody and harmony.
"Magnificat of the Patriarchs" (St Matthew 5) formed the basis for the next chant combining typical separation of the singers' voices and the responding choir into a single tragically sad melody.
"Righteous Simon Chant" tells about ancient Simon expecting the moment when he will see the Savior (Luke, 2, 29 etc.). Fessler took advantage of the opportunity to underline the eternal question, "What is it I live and die for?" We are always in search of something to provide support for us, in search of a light to keeping burning in the dark hours of our life, in search of power that will stay with us in the days of sickness and disappointment, in search of consolation and confidence, in search of greater things than hesitation and cowardice.
The answer was given by Jesus when he was saying farewell to the Apostles and promised to be everywhere at any time.
Memorable words of imploration about salvation, full of passionate power, "Save us from disease" performed by the singers to penetrate into the audience's souls and give them power.
"God with us" completing the first part of the concert demonstrated control of voices of the highest complexity, and harmony that was unusual, and at the same time attractive, for the Western ear. The singers were very accurate and harmonious in performing this chant. Ah, if only this could be heard in church!
Russian Soul
Before the second part of the concert started when Russian folk songs were to be performed, the singers were introduced to the audience: Head of the choir and second tenor Vladimir Mostovoy and Vasily Timonin, the first tenor, Alexander Patyukov, baritone and bass, as well as Vladimir Kumitsyn, bass. They made the Russian soul shine with every color performing famous songs beloved by us all. "Bellflower dinning monotonously" was carried away tenderly and passionately through Russian valleys. Powerful bass-solo in "Twelve Reavers" takes you to the Siberian woods. Smiths carrying out hard work "In the smithy" are dreaming of going to dance with lasses after work, speed of their work becoming faster to make their dreams come true. The audience perceives impetuosity of the twister superbly articulated by the singers.
And then here it is: the original "Kalinka" which shows how poor and faint Western adaptations are.
A beautiful song "Evening chime" comes at the end and is taken to heart above all others due to the heartfelt Russian performance.
Applause continued until the song was repeated. The male choir "Hermitage" wished everyone good health in a musical form in Russian. ...Oh, no, wait, after the head of the rest home Peter Hessig expressed his appreciation and invited them to a common cozy "lunch" one more song was performed.
Everyone unexpectedly heard "Boer Lad" who can, as it turns out, sing in Russian but does not want to get married, promising his bride whole oceans of gold and wine. This was Russian-Swiss-German in perfect melodious combination with all the guests joining in.
According to Brigitta Stingel, co-ordinator of the male choir "Hermitage" winter tour, interviewed by the newspaper "Tößthaler", proceeds would be spent on renovation of Jesus Church in Saint-Petersburg. Baritone Alexander Patyukov added that under the Communists the church had been used as a warehouse and should now be completely renovated to restore its architecture.
During a Swiss tour planned up to the middle of December, the singers, who are well worth hearing will sing in Diessenhof (November 9), Basadingen (November 10), St. Galen (November 15, 16) and Mȕnsterlingen (November 23).
Cantonal Tourism Department
Zurich
When a Boer lad speaks Russian
Residents and many guests of the rest home "Lindehus" in Turbentale will keep joyful and harmonious memories of the six singers of Saint-Petersburg male choir "Hermitage" who appeared there in daytime on Tuesday on October 29, 1996. They were invited by the Rest Home and Vila Reformist Church Society.
Parson Markus Fessler also greeted the expectant audience in the hall. He said it was the first time that the group of six professional musicians had been on tour in Switzerland.
Singing Prayers from the Heart
Each time Markus Fessler prepared the audience with the relevant Bible texts in order to understand the orthodox church chants.
"Praise God, my soul" is a chant based upon Psalm 103. A mild beginning provides a chance to feel immediately a superb quality in the six singers' voices. The hall was filled with melody and harmony.
"Magnificat of the Patriarchs" (St Matthew 5) formed the basis for the next chant combining typical separation of the singers' voices and the responding choir into a single tragically sad melody.
"Righteous Simon Chant" tells about ancient Simon expecting the moment when he will see the Savior (Luke, 2, 29 etc.). Fessler took advantage of the opportunity to underline the eternal question, "What is it I live and die for?" We are always in search of something to provide support for us, in search of a light to keeping burning in the dark hours of our life, in search of power that will stay with us in the days of sickness and disappointment, in search of consolation and confidence, in search of greater things than hesitation and cowardice.
The answer was given by Jesus when he was saying farewell to the Apostles and promised to be everywhere at any time.
Memorable words of imploration about salvation, full of passionate power, "Save us from disease" performed by the singers to penetrate into the audience's souls and give them power.
"God with us" completing the first part of the concert demonstrated control of voices of the highest complexity, and harmony that was unusual, and at the same time attractive, for the Western ear. The singers were very accurate and harmonious in performing this chant. Ah, if only this could be heard in church!
Russian Soul
Before the second part of the concert started when Russian folk songs were to be performed, the singers were introduced to the audience: Head of the choir and second tenor Vladimir Mostovoy and Vasily Timonin, the first tenor, Alexander Patyukov, baritone and bass, as well as Vladimir Kumitsyn, bass. They made the Russian soul shine with every color performing famous songs beloved by us all. "Bellflower dinning monotonously" was carried away tenderly and passionately through Russian valleys. Powerful bass-solo in "Twelve Reavers" takes you to the Siberian woods. Smiths carrying out hard work "In the smithy" are dreaming of going to dance with lasses after work, speed of their work becoming faster to make their dreams come true. The audience perceives impetuosity of the twister superbly articulated by the singers.
And then here it is: the original "Kalinka" which shows how poor and faint Western adaptations are.
A beautiful song "Evening chime" comes at the end and is taken to heart above all others due to the heartfelt Russian performance.
Applause continued until the song was repeated. The male choir "Hermitage" wished everyone good health in a musical form in Russian. ...Oh, no, wait, after the head of the rest home Peter Hessig expressed his appreciation and invited them to a common cozy "lunch" one more song was performed.
Everyone unexpectedly heard "Boer Lad" who can, as it turns out, sing in Russian but does not want to get married, promising his bride whole oceans of gold and wine. This was Russian-Swiss-German in perfect melodious combination with all the guests joining in.
According to Brigitta Stingel, co-ordinator of the male choir "Hermitage" winter tour, interviewed by the newspaper "Tößthaler", proceeds would be spent on renovation of Jesus Church in Saint-Petersburg. Baritone Alexander Patyukov added that under the Communists the church had been used as a warehouse and should now be completely renovated to restore its architecture.
During a Swiss tour planned up to the middle of December, the singers, who are well worth hearing will sing in Diessenhof (November 9), Basadingen (November 10), St. Galen (November 15, 16) and Mȕnsterlingen (November 23).
Cantonal Tourism Department
Zurich
