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Donald Macleod explores Rachmaninov’s collaboration with Alexander Kastalsky on his greatest sacred masterpiece.

Rachmaninov has been seen as the last great champion of Russian late Romanticism. He was a celebrated pianist and conductor, as well as a composer, and his musical legacy includes his hugely popular piano concertos. In this series of programmes, Donald Macleod turns his attention to Rachmaninov’s great choral works and his story during the periods in which they were composed. These choral masterpieces are both sacred and secular, and include the cantata Spring, the choral symphony The Bells, Three Russian Songs, the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, and the iconic All-Night Vigil. Donald explores what inspired Rachmaninov while he was writing this music, including creative collaborations, beautiful poetry, and places in Russia and abroad.

Today, Donald traces Rachmaninov’s productive collaboration with the composer Alexander Kastalsky, who supported and advised Rachmaninov through the writing of his most celebrated sacred choral work: the All-Night Vigil. Despite a cool response from the church authorities to this work, Rachmaninov’s Vespers soon entered the repertoire of Russian choirs. Not long after, Rachmaninov suffered a spate of poor health and doctors prescribed a period of recuperation at the mineral baths in the Caucasus. The poet Marietta Shaginyan helped nurse Rachmaninov back to health, and encouraged him to begin writing music again. Although reluctant to compose many new works during this period of personal and political turmoil, he did begin to revise some earlier works, including his First Piano Concerto.

Vocalise, Op 34 No 14
Aida Garifullina, soprano
ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna
Cornelius Meister, conductor

All-Night Vigil Op 37 (excerpt)
Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Kļava, conductor

To Her, Op 38 No 2
Daisies, Op 38 No 3
A-u!, Op 38 No 6
Louise Alder, soprano
Joseph Middleton, pianos

Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor, Op 1 (Allegro vivace)
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Berlin Philharmonic
Antonio Pappano, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales