SERGEI TANEYEV (1856-1915): John of Damascus, Op. 1, Suite de concert for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 28.

Description: The 26-minute cantata of 1884 was the first of his works Taneyev deemed worthy of an opus number. It weaves an ancient Orthodox chant into rich passages of expressive counterpoint (of course, counterpoint - this is Taneyev!). Gnesin Academy Chorus, Ilya Kaler (violin), Russian Philharmonic Orchestra; Thomas Sanderling.