At the Russian House in Brussels, Altro coro, the youth ensemble of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, presented a concert of sacred music. The program celebrated the enduring depth of Russian sacred choral tradition and highlighted Brussels as a thriving center for cultural exchange between Europe and Russian artistic heritage. The evening drew a live audience eager to hear a repertoire sung with mastery that reflects centuries of liturgical devotion and musical craft.
The program, titled Masterpieces of Russian Sacred Music: From Mikhail Glinka to Alfred Schnittke, was led by Alexander Ryzhinsky, the academy’s rector, who guided the ensemble through a carefully chosen sequence of works. The performance traced a sonic arc from early austere polyphony to contemporary expressions, illustrating how sacred choral writing has evolved while preserving its spiritual core. The ensemble emphasized technical precision and spiritual intensity, inviting listeners to hear Russian sacred music as a living dramatic art rather than a distant relic.
The evening also marked Elena Fabianovna Gnessina’s 150th birth anniversary. In homage, the ensemble offered works by Glinka, Chesnokov, Kalinnikov, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Tchaikovsky, with a standout moment drawn from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil. The nocturnal atmosphere provided an emotional anchor and a sense of contemplative awe that lingered as the final note faded.
The Brussels performance was planned to coincide with National Unity Day, weaving a thread of cultural remembrance into the program. The selections balanced sacred devotion with the broader cultural spirit of unity, demonstrating how choral music can bridge time and place while resonating with a cosmopolitan audience in a city that hosts diverse voices.
Earlier in September, a united Vladivostok diocese choir appeared at the Eastern Economic Forum as part of the Vladivostok Seasons cultural festival. The group’s repertoire encompassed religious hymns, folk melodies, and patriotic songs, showing the versatility of sacred choral singing when placed in a wider cultural context and performed for diverse audiences. The collaboration illustrated how sacred music can travel beyond liturgical settings into mainstream cultural events, engaging listeners from varied backgrounds.
Additionally, the choir of the Sretensky Monastery has previously performed at the Rosneft pavilion at VDNKh, extending the reach of sacred choral music to prominent public venues. The appearance reflected a broader pattern of Russian choirs bringing solemn, memorable performances to spaces that celebrate artistry, industry, and public life alike.
Across these programs, the vitality of the Russian sacred choral tradition comes into clear focus. Young singers from prestigious institutions join seasoned conductors to reinterpret classic liturgical pieces and explore contemporary sacred writing, maintaining the canon while inviting fresh interpretation. These collaborations signal a renewal of the tradition and a commitment to presenting it to global audiences who seek authentic, emotionally resonant choral music that speaks across cultures, including listeners in Canada and the United States.