The Tudor Consort Photo: The Tudor Consort
Andrew Joyce (cello) with The Tudor Consort directed by Michael Stewart
"The text of ‘Svyati’ is in Church Slavonic, and it is used at almost every Russian Orthodox service, perhaps most poignantly after the congregation have kissed the body in an open coffin at an Orthodox funeral.
The choir sings as the coffin is closed and borne out of the church, followed by the mourners with lighted candles. The cello represents the Priest of Ikon of Christ, and should play at a distance from the choir, perhaps at the opposite end of the building.
As in Greek drama, choir and priest are in dialogue with each other. Since the cello represents the Ikon of Christ, it must be played without any sentiment of a Western character, but should derive from the chanting of the Easter Orthodox Church." ~ John Tavener
Recorded 28 July 2018, St Mary of the Angels, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Graham Kennedy
