The Bells of Dawn – Russian Sacred and Folk Songs

• Hristov: Khvalite imya Gospodne (Praise the Name of the Lord)
• Chesnokov: Blazhen muzh (Blessed is the Man) in Op. 44, No. 2
• Chesnokov: Sovet Prevechnyj (The pre-eternal counsel)
• Chesnokov: Hear My Prayer (Da ispravitsya molitva moya)
• Chesnokov: From my youth
• Mikhail Burmagin: The Wise Thief (Razboynika blagorazumnago)
• Arkhangelsky: Symbol of Faith (Simvol veri)
• Varlamov: Metelitsa (Snowstorm)
• trad.: There Is Not One Path Through the Field (Ne odna vo pole dorozhka)
• trad.: The Lonely Coach Bell (Odnozvuchno gremit kolokol’chik)
• trad.: Farewell, My Joy (Proshchay, radost’)
• trad.: The Fog Has Fallen Onto the Field (Uzh kak pal tuman)
• Elizaveta Shashina: I Walk My Path Alone (Vïkhozhu odin ya na dorogu)
• trad.: Oh, Night (Akh tï, nochen’ka)
• Sviridov: The Bells of Dawn (Zoryu b’yut)

This is Ondine’s third release with the Russian star baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and is devoted to sacred works by Russian composers and Russian folk songs. Hvorostovsky is recognized as one of the leading baritones of today and is an international presence in famous opera houses throughout the world.

The title song of the album, Georgy Sviridov’s Bells of Dawn, is an atmospheric work creating an otherworldly and remote landscape. The music for this disc has been especially chosen to entice the listener into the beauty of traditional Russian music as well as the skill and craft of contemporary composers in maintaining this tradition for the future.

Hvorostovsky is accompanied by the prestigious Russian Grand Choir ‘Masters of Choral Singing’, a choir which showcases the best traditions of Russian choral singing, under the direction of Lev Kontorovich.