Slavyanka means a female of Slavic origin, but the name corresponds to a distinguished male chorus in its 30th year of existence, regularly presenting some amazing a cappella concerts in San Francisco and around California. The most recent one was celebrating the collective’s 29th anniversary on Sunday in the ideal setting—Main Post Interfaith Chapel in Presidio of San Francisco. The historic chapel could hardly contain a crowd of Russian music lovers, very few of them understanding any Russian beyond privet and spasibo. The language of music proved to be universal once again, uniting the audience in sheer appreciation of the talented and highly spirited performance. A few immigrant hearts skipped, reminded of the cold Motherland, still loved as all those mothers who reject their children… The soloists were all perfection, from deep, culture-specific bass to lyrical tenor, like Vladimir Zagatsky (in Akh Ty, Dushechka—a traditional Russian song) and an occasional angelic female, like Signe Anderssel (in Angel Vopiyash’e by Chesnokov). Slavyanka’s repertoire consists primarily of Russian Orthodox liturgical, folk and composed music by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov, but it also includes Ukrainian, Macedonian, Dalmation, Georgian, and other ethnic songs. The chorus was formed in 1979 by several former members of the Yale Russian Chorus. The founder and director emeritus, Paul Andrews, conducted some of the pieces, performed by the alumni, following the main program, conducted by the music director Gregory Smirnov. In the course of 30 years, the chorus membership has varied from twenty to thirty participants, all with other primary occupations ranging from business and the trades to law, science and medicine. To hear the next Slavyanka performance, to get on their mailing list, or to take a chance becoming a memeber, go to www.slavyanka.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment