'All-Night Vigil' to launch season

The Cathedral of the Madeleine's Festival of the Arts and Humanities starts its new season today with a rare performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff's huge a cappella work, the "All-Night Vigil (Canticles of Vespers)" op. 37.

Performing it will be a Mahlerian-size ensemble of several choirs that Brady Allred directs: the University of Utah Singers; the University of Utah A Cappella Choir; the Salt Lake Choral Artists Chamber Choir; and the Salt Lake Choral Artists. All told there will be around 300 voices.

"There is a reason for having so many voices," Allred told the Deseret News. "You need to have balance in each of the four groups. And with a large choral group you can have a wider dynamic range and different textures."

The combined choir won't be singing together the entire time, Allred said. "They will only do several movements together, and they'll be together for the big climactic moments. For a lot of the movements, there will only be two or three smaller groups singing."

This is Allred's first time conducting the entire work. "I felt like it was the right time to do it." He's also looking forward to doing it in the cathedral. "I'm always thrilled to be part of the festival, and the setting is perfect. This is such an ethereal, heavenly work."

Rachmaninoff isn't known as a choral composer, but Allred sees a distinct connection between the "All-Night Vigil" and the piano concertos and symphonies. "The 'All-Night Vigil' shows his skill as an orchestrator. Although it's for voices, Rachmaninoff really thinks orchestrally."

But what makes the work stand out is its faithfulness to the Russian liturgy. "What makes it so beautiful is the way Rachmaninoff utilizes old Russian chants," Allred said. "And he also composed new melodies that sound like chant." This gives the work its otherworldly character.

Joining the choirs are soloists Stina Eberhardt, mezzo-soprano, and Todd Miller, tenor. Also taking part in the performance are octavists Glenn Miller and Cameron Beauchamp. "Octavists are low basses who double the bass part in octaves," Allred said. "In Russia, they don't read music, they're just in the choir to sing only the low notes. But we're going to have Glenn and Cameron join the basses throughout."

Following is a schedule of concerts. Performances begin at 8 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Madeleine and are free of charge, unless otherwise noted.

April 11: University of Utah Choirs and the Salt Lake Choral Artists, Brady Allred, conductor: Rachmaninoff, "All-Night Vigil," op. 37.