SERGEI RACHMANINOV (1873–1943)
All-Night Vigil, Op.37
1. Priidite, poklonimsya (Come, let us worship)
2. Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Gospoda (Bless the Lord, O my soul)
3. Blazhen muzh (Blessed is the man)
4. Svete tikhiy (Gladsome light)
5. Nïne otpushchayeshi (Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant)
6. Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia (Rejoice, O Virgin)
7. Shestopsalmiye (The Six Psalms)
8. Khvalite imya Gospodne (Praise the Name of the Lord)
9. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi (Blessed art Thou, O Lord)
10. Voskreseniye Hristovo videvshe (Having beheld the resurrection of Christ)
11. Velichit dusha moya Gospoda (My soul doth magnify the Lord)
12. Slavosloviye velikoye (The Great Doxology)
13. Tropar “Dnes’ spaseniye” (Troparion “Today hath salvation come”)
14. Tropar “Voskres iz groba (Troparion “Thou didst rise from the tomb”)
15. Vzbrannoy voyevode (To Thee, the victorious leader)
‘Where on earth are we to find such basses? They are as rare as asparagus at Christmas.’
Nikolai Danilin, conductor of the Moscow Synodal Choir, was full of praise for Rachmaninov’s musical setting of the All-Night Vigil, when the composer played the new piece through for him on the piano. He immediately asked Rachmaninov for permission to perform it as soon as possible (which the composer was of course more than happy to grant) but even with the best choir in Russia at his disposal, Danilin had little hope that he would be able to find singers with deep enough voices to do justice to Rachmaninov’s magnificently resonant sonorities.
Part of the problem was, undoubtedly, timing. This was 1915, and vast numbers of men had been swept up into the bloodbath of the Great War. But even before the war, real basso profundo voices (or ‘octavists’, as they were known in Russia, because they were at times required to double the bass line an octave below the written pitch) were not particularly common. Composers wrote sparingly for them, aware of their scarcity but also understanding that even the most glorious sound can quickly lose its impact if overused.
Rachmaninov was not daunted by Danilin’s complaint: ‘I knew the voices of my countrymen and was well aware of the demands I could put upon Russian basses!’ And not just on the basses: it is Rachmaninov’s subtle and sensitive writing for the whole choir that has made his setting of the All-Night Vigil one of the great masterworks of the choral repertoire.
Unlike western Europe with its oratorios and especially England, with its Anglican cathedral tradition, Russia’s church music heritage was not particularly inspiring. There was a vast body of chant dating back to the 10th century,
| 2 June 10
Notes RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS
but the conservatism of the Orthodox liturgy had effectively fossilised this as unaccompanied, unison singing. Attempts in the 17th century to reform the musical practices of the church had met with a backlash so violent that in the end the ancient chants were banned altogether. The music that took their place was heavily influenced by the Italian school, à la Mozart or Haydn. When composers in the 19 th century began to reassert their national identity by reclaiming authentic Russian chants, having no living performance practice to draw on, they generally ended up squeezing the melodies into the regular rhythms and simple four-part harmonies of the West. Rachmaninov, with his AllNight Vigil, was the first to successfully blend old and new, remaining faithful to the old melodies while creating a newly expressive musical soil in which they could thrive.
The All-Night Vigil, despite the name, does not last all through the night in the Russian Orthodox tradition, at least not in ordinary parish worship; it is the standard Saturday evening service, combining the offices of Vespers, Matins and the First Hour – a prayerful farewell to the day that is done, and a preparation for the day to come. Not all of the service is sung (which explains why the first movement begins with the word ‘Amen’ – this is the completion of a spoken prayer). Rachmaninov’s setting consists of 15 musical items. Ten of these use traditional chants; the other five are pure Rachmaninov, but so skilfully constructed that it is really not possible to pick them as ‘false’ just by listening to them. (For the record, they are Nos 1, 3, 6, 10 and 11.)
Russian chant differs from the Gregorian chant of the Western church most obviously in its rhythmic patterning: whereas in Gregorian chant the notes are generally all the same length and flow evenly, with no sense of any regular
metre or pulse, in Russian chant the rhythm is notated, and the notes have different lengths. The rhythms are still ‘free’, though, in the sense that they don’t fit neatly into bars of regular length, and in fact the music generally has no bar-lines at all, except at the ends of phrases. The melodies tend to move in steps rather than leaps, and are confined to quite a limited range of pitches, usually no more than a sixth; in No.4, Svete tikhiy, the tune covers just four notes.
What Rachmaninov does with these melodies is extraordinary. Using the natural timbres of each voice type, he creates a breathtaking range of vocal and choral colours, contrasting high and low voices (sopranos and altos against tenors and basses), upper and lower voices (sopranos and tenors against altos and basses), solo voices and full chorus. Overlaid on this rich colour palette are the shifting harmonic textures: from homophony, with the voices all moving together in rhythmic unison (the first movement, Priidite, poklonimsya, for example), to the freer polyphony of, say, No. 7, Slava v vïshnikh Bogu, where different vocal lines move at different speeds, and bell-like chords ring out over the melody. And although the melodies themselves are at times quite repetitive, Rachmaninov never repeats his harmonies: they are different every time.
Then there is a third layer of colour in the constantly changing dynamics. Of course, the power of the full choir is always impressive, but even more striking is Rachmaninov’s use of the softer dynamics: piano, pianissimo and beyond, into near silence. The octavists’ moment of glory, the closing phrase of No.5, Nïne otpushchayeshi, where the bass line descends right down to a bottom B flat – the phrase that had conductor Danilin shaking his head –is all the more breathtaking for being sung in a whisper.
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 11
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS
Rachmaninov never heard the Vigil performed liturgically: it was premiered on 10 March 1915 at a war benefit concert, albeit by a church choir, the allmale Moscow Synodal Choir, with a boy treble as the alto soloist. (Rachmaninov later conducted a performance by the Mariinsky Opera Chorus, so he clearly did not object to the involvement of female singers.) Even in the concert hall, however, the effect of Rachmaninov’s kaleidoscope of colours and textures is the same as that of the original, unadorned chant: a heightening of the meaning of the sacred texts, and a spirit of awe and wonder.
Natalie Shea © 2014
| 2 June 12
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RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS
1. Priidite, poklonimsya
Priidite, poklonimsya Tsarevi nashemu Bogu.
Priidite, poklonimsya i pripadem
Khristu Tsarevi nashemu Bogu.
Priidite, poklonimsya i pripadem
Samomu Khristu Tsarevi i Bogu nashemu.
Priidite, poklonimsya i pripadem Emu.
2. Blagoslovi, dushe moya Gospoda
Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Gospoda, blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Gospodi Bozhe moy, vozvelichilsya esi zelo.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Vo ispovedaniye i v velelepotu obleklsya esi.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Na gorakh stanut vody.
Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi.
Posrede gor proydut vody.
Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi
Vsya premudristiyu sotvoril esi.
Slava Ti, Gospodi, sotvorivshemu vsya.
3. Blazhen muzh
Blazhen muzh, izhe ne ide na sovet nechestivykh.
Alliluya, alliluya, alliluya.
Yako vest Gospod put pravednykh, i put nechestivykh pogibnet. Alliluya.
Rabotaite Gospodevi so strakhom i raduitesya Emu s trepetom. Alliluya.
Blazheni vsi nadeysushchisya Nan. Alliluya.
1. Come, let us worship
Come, let us worship God, our King.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before him.
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Bless the Lord, O my soul, blessed art thou, O Lord. O Lord my God, thou art very great.
Blessed art thou, O Lord. Thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Blessed art thou, O Lord. The waters stand upon the mountains. Marvellous are thy works, O Lord. The waters flow between the hills. Marvellous are thy works, O Lord. In wisdom hast thou made all things. Glory to thee, O Lord, who hast created all!
3. Blessed is the man
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. Alleluia.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Alleluia.
Texts and Translation
Vsenoshchnoye bdeniye All-Night Vigil (‘Vespers’)
| 2 June 14
Voskresni, Gospodi, spasi mya, Bozhe moy. Alliluya.
Gospodene est spaseniye, i na lyudekh Tvoikh blagosloveniye Tvoye. Alliluya.
Slava Otsu, i Synu, i Svyatomu Dukhu, i nyne i prisno i vo veki vekov. Amin. Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe. Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe. Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe.
4. Svete tikhiy
Svete tikhiy svyatyya slavy, Bezsmertnago, Otsa Nebesnago, Svyatago Blazhennago, I isuse Khriste!
Prishedshe na zapad solntsa, videvshe svet vechernii, poyem Otsa, Syna i Svyatago Dukha, Boga!
Dostoin esi vo vsya vremena pet byti glasi prepodobnymi, Syne Bozhii, zhivot dayai, temzhe mir Tya slavit.
5. Nïne otpushchayeshï
Nïne otpushchayeshï raba Tvoego, Vladyko, po glagolu Tvoyemu s mirom: yako videsta ochi moi spaseniye Tvoye, ezhe esi ugotoval pred litsem vsekh lyudei, svet vo otkrovenie yazykov, i slavu lyudei Tvoikh Izrailya.
6. Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia
Bogoroditse devo, raduisya, Blagodatnaya Mariye, Gospod s Toboyu.
Blagoslovenna Ty v zhenakh, i blagosloven plod chreva Tvoyego, yako Spasa rodila esi dush nashikh.
Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! Alleluia.
Salvation is of the Lord; and thy blessing is upon thy people. Alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God.
4. Gladsome Light
Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal One, the Heavenly Father, holy and blessedO Jesus Christ! Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God.
Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns by reverent voices. O Son of God, thou art the Giver of Life; therefore all the world glorifies Thee.
5.Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.
6. Rejoice, O Virgin
Rejoice O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, for Thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.
Please turn pages quietly RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 15
7. Shestopsalmiye
Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir, v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye. Gospodi, ustne moyi otverzeshi, i usta moya vozvestyat khvalu Tvoyu.
8. Hvalite imya Gospodne
Khvalite imya Gospodne, Alliluya. Khvalite, rabi, Gospoda. Alliluya, alliluya.
Blagosloven Gospod ot Siona, zhivyi vo Iyerusaleme. Alliluya.
Ispovedaitesya Gospodevi, yako blag. Alliluya, alliluya.
Yako v vek milost Ego. Alliluya.
Ispovedaitesya Bogu nebesnomu.
Alliluya, alliluya.
Yako v vek milost Ego. Alliluya.
9. Blagosloven yesi, Gospodi
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoim.
Angelskiy sobor udivisya, zrya Tebe v mertvykh vmenivshasya, smertnuyu zhe, Spase, krepost razorivsha,
is Soboyu Adama vozdvigsha i ot ada vsya svobozhdsha.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoim.
Pochta mira s milostivnymi slezami,
o uchenitsy, rastvoryayete; blistayaisya vo grobe angel, mironositsam veshchashe:
‘Vidite vy grob, i urazumeite: Spas bo vozkrese ot groba.’
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoim.
Zelo rano mironositsy techakhu ko grobu Tvoyemu rydayushchiya.
7. The Six Psalms
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.
O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Thy praise.
8. Praise the Name of the Lord
Praise the name of the Lord. Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O you His servants. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem. Alleluia. O give thanks to the Lord for he is good. Alleluia, alleluia.
For his mercy endureth for ever. Alleluia. O give thanks unto the God of Heaven. Alleluia, alleluia. For his mercy endureth for ever. Alleluia.
9. Blessed art Thou, O Lord
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
The angelic host was filled with awe when it saw Thee among the dead. By destroying the power of death, O Saviour, Thou didst raise Adam and save all men from hell.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statues.
“Why do you mingle myrrh with your tears of compassion, O ye women disciples?” cried the radiant angel in the tomb to the myrrh-bearers.
“Behold the tomb and understand: the Saviour is risen from the dead.”
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy Statues.
Very early in the morning the myrrh-bearers ran with sorrow to Thy tomb,
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 16
No predsta k nim angel, i reche:
‘Rydaniya vremya presta ne plachite, voskresnye zhe apostolom rtsyte.’
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoim.
Mironositsy zheny, s miry prishedshyya ko grobu Tvoyemu, Spase, rydakhu.
Angel zhe k nim reche, glagolya: ‘Chto s mertvymi zhivago pomyshlyayete?
Yako Bog vo voskrese ot groba.’
Slava Otsu, i Synu, i Svyatomu Dukhu.
Poklonimsya Otsu, i Ego Synovi, i Svyatomu Dukhu, Svyatei Troitse vo edinom sushchestve, s Serafimy zovushche:
‘Svyat, svyat, svyat esi Gospodi.’
I nyne, i prisno, i vo veki vekov. Amin.
Zhiznodavtsa rozhdshi, grekha, Devo, Adama izbavila esi.
Radost zhe Eve v pechali mesto podala esi:
padshiya zhe ot zhizni, k sei napravi,
iz Tebe voplotivyisya Bog i chelovek.
Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe. Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe.
Alliluya. Slava Tebe, Bozhe.
10. Voskreseniye Hristovo videvshe
Voskreseniye Khristovo videvshe, poklonimsya Svyatomu Gospodu Iisusu, edinomu bezgeshnomu.
Krestu Tvoyemu poklanyayemsya, Khriste, i svyatoye voskreseniye Tvoye poyem i slavim:
Ty bo esi Bog nash, razve Tebe inogo ne znayem, imya Tvoye imenuem.
but an Angel came to them and said:
“The time for sorrow has come to an end!
Do not weep, but announce the resurrection to the apostles.”
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy Statues.
The myrrh-bearers were sorrowful as they neared Thy tomb but the angel said to them:
“Why do you number the living amongst the dead?
Since he is God, He is risen from the tomb!”
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
We worship the Father, and his Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Trinity, one in essence!
We cry with the Seraphim:
“Holy, holy, holy art thou, O Lord.”
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Since thou didst give birth to the Giver of Life, O Virgin, thou didst deliver Adam from his sin!
Thou gavest joy to Eve instead of sadness!
The God-man who was born of Thee has restored to life those who had fallen from it!
Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God!
Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God!
Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God!
10.Having beheld the resurrection of Christ
Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One.
We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and we hymn and glorify Thy holy resurrection, for thou art our God and we know none other than Thee.
We call on Thy name.
Please turn pages quietly RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 17
Priidite vsi vernii, poklonimsya svyatomu Khristovu voskreseniyu:
se bo priide krestom
radost vsemu miru, vsegda blagosloyashche Gospoda, poyem voskreseniye Ego; raspyatiye bo preterpev, smertiyu smert razrushi.
11. Velichit dusha moya Gospoda
Velichit dusha moya Gospoda, i vozvradovasya dukh moy o Bozhe Spase moyem.
Chestneyshuyu Kheruvim
i slavneyshuyu bez sravneniya
Serafim,
bez istleniya Bogo Slova rozhdshuyu, sushchuyu Bogoroditsu Tya velichayem.
Yako prizre na smireniye raby Svoyeya.
Se bo otnyne ublazhat mya vsi rodi.
Yako sotvori mne velichie silny, i svyato imya Ego, i milost Ego v rody rodov boyashchymsya Ego.
Nizlozhi silniya so prestol, i voznese smirennyya. Alchushchiya ispolni blag, i bogatyashchiyasya otpusti tshchi.
Vospriyat Izrailya otroka svoyego, pomyanuti milosti, yakozhe glagola ko otsem nashym, Avraamu i semeni ego, dazhe do veka.
Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ’s holy resurrection.
For behold, through the cross joy has come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His resurrection, for by enduring the cross for us He has destroyed death by death.
11. My soul doth magnify the Lord
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
More honourable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without defilement thou gavest birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done great things for me, and holy is his name, and his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and his posterity forever.
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 18
12. Slavosloviye velikoye
Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir,
v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye.
Khvalim Tya, blagoslovim Tya, klanyayem Ti sya, slavoslovim Tya, blagodarim Tya velikiya radi slavi Tvoyeya.
Gospodi, Tsaryu Nebesny, Bozhe Otche, vsederzhitelyu.
Gospodi, Syne edinorodny, Iisuse Khriste
i Svyatye Dushe.
Gospodi Bozhe, Agnche Bozhiy, syne Otech, vzemlyai grekh mira, pomiluy nas:
vzemlyai grekhi mira, priimi molitvu nashu. Sedyai odesnuyu
Otsa, pomiluy nas.
Yako Ty esi edin svyat, Ty esi edin Gospod, Iisus Khristos, v slavu Boga Otsa. Amin.
Na vsyak den blagoslovlyu Tya i voskhalyu imya Tvoe vo veki i v vek veka.
Spodobi, Gospodi, v den sei bez grekha sokhranitisya nam.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, Bozhe Otets nashikh, i khvalno i proslavleno imya Tvoye vo veki. Amin.
Budi, Gospodi, milost Tvoya na nas, yakozhe upovakhom na Tya.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoyim.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoyim.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi, nauchi mya opravdaniem Tvoyim.
Gospodi pribezhishche byl esi nam v rod i rod.
12. The Great Doxology
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty,
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For thou alone art holy, thou alone art the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I will bless Thee and praise Thy name for ever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name forever. Amen.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statues.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statues.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statues.
Lord, Thou has been our refuge from generation to generation
Please turn pages quietly RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 19
Az rekh: Gospodi, pomiluy mya, istseli dushu moyu, yako sogreshikh Tebe.
Gospodi, k Tebe pribegokh, nauchi mya tvoriti volyu Tvoyu, yako Ty esi Bog moy, yako u Tebe istochnik zhivota. Vo svete Tvoem uzrim svet. Probavi milost Tvoyu vedushchym Tya.
Svyatyi Bozhe, Svyatyi Krepkyi, Svyatyi Bezsmertnyi, pomiluy nas.
Slava Otsu, i Synu, i Svyatomu Dukhu, i nyne i prisno, i vo veki vekov. Amin.
Svyatyi Bezsmertnyi, pomiluy nasi.
Svyatyi Bozhe, Svyatyi Krepkyi, Svyatyi Bezsmertnyi, pomiluy nas.
13. Tropar “Dnes’ spaseniye”
Dnes spaseniye miru byst, poyem voskresshemu iz groba i nachalniku zhizni nasheya: razrushiv bo smertiyu smert, pobedu dade nam i veliyu milost.
14. Tropar “Voskres iz groba”
Voskres iz groba i uzy rasterzal esi ada, razrushil esi osuzhdeniye smerti, Gospodi, vsya ot setei vraga izbavivyi, yavivyi zhe Sebe apostolom Tvoim, poslal esi ya na propoved, i temi mir Tvoi podal esi vselennei, edine mnogomilostive.
I said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
Lord, I flee to Thee, teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; for with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light we shall see light. Continue Thy mercy on those who know Thee.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unton ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
13. Troparion “Today hath salvation come” Today salvation has come to the world. Let us sing to him who rose from the dead, the author of our life. Having destroyed death by death he has given us the victory and great mercy.
14. Troparion “Thou didst rise from the tomb”
Thou didst rise from the tomb and burst the bonds of Hades. Thou didst destroy the condemnation of death, O Lord, releasing all mankind from the snares of the enemy.
Thou didst show Thyself to Thine apostles, and didst send them forth to proclaim Thee; and through them Thou hast granted Thy peace to the world, O Thou who art plenteous in mercy.
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 20
15. Vzbrannoy voyevode
Vzbrannoy voyevode pobeditelnaya, yako izbavlshesya ot zlykh, blagodarstvennaya vospisuem Ti rabi Tvoi, Bogoroditse.
No yako imushchaya derzhavu nepobedimuyu, ot vsyakikh nas bed svobodi, da zovyem Ti:
‘Raduisya, nevesto Nenevestnaya.’
15. To Thee, the victorious leader
To thee, the victorious Leader of triumphant hosts, we Thy servants, delivered from evil, offer hymns of thanksgiving, O Theotokos!
Since Thou dost possess invincible might, set us free from all calamities, so that we may cry to thee:
“Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!”
RACHMANINOV’S VESPERS | 2 June 21
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Concertmaster Dale Barltrop
David Li AM and Angela Li
Assistant Concertmaster
Tair Khisambeev Di Jameson and Frank Mercurio
Young Composer in Residence
Melissa Douglas Cybec Foundation
2023 Composer in Residence
Mary Finsterer Kim Williams AM
PROGRAM BENEFACTORS
MSO Now & Forever Fund: International Engagement Gandel Foundation
Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers
Program Cybec Foundation
Digital Transformation The Margaret
Lawrence Bequest – Managed by Perpetual, Perpetual Foundation – Alan (AGL) Shaw Endowment
First Nations Emerging Artist Program
The Ullmer Family Foundation
East meets West The Li Family Trust, National Foundation for Australia-China Relations
MSO Live Online Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation
MSO Education Anonymous
MSO Academy Di Jameson and Frank Mercurio
MSO For Schools Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation, Department of Education, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program
Melbourne Music Summit Department of Education, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program
MSO Regional Touring Creative Victoria, Freemasons Foundation Victoria, Robert Salzer Foundation, The Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation
The Pizzicato Effect Hume City Council’s Community Grants program, The Marian and E.H. Flack Trust, Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust, Australian Decorative And Fine Arts Society, Anonymous
Sidney Myer Free Concerts Sidney Myer
MSO Trust Fund and the University of Melbourne
PLATINUM PATRONS
$100,000+
Mr Marc Besen AC and the late Mrs Eva Besen AO
The Gandel Foundation
The Gross Foundation
Di Jameson and Frank Mercurio
David Li AM and Angela Li
Lady Primrose Potter AC CMRI
The Ullmer Family Foundation
Anonymous (1)
VIRTUOSO
PATRONS $50,000+
Margaret Jackson AC
Weis Family Anonymous (1)
22
Supporters
IMPRESARIO PATRONS $20,000+
H Bentley
The Hogan Family Foundation
David Krasnostein AM and Pat Stragalinos
Opalgate Foundation
Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence
Lady Marigold Southey AC
Di Jameson and Frank Mercurio
Kim Williams AM
Anonymous (2)
MAESTRO PATRONS $10,000+
Christine and Mark Armour
Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson
Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Dr Mary-Jane H Gething AO
Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah Golvan
Danny Gorog and Lindy Susskind
David R Lloyd
Peter Lovell
Maestro Jaime Martin
Ian and Jeannie Paterson
Christopher Robinson and the late Joan P Robinson
Yashian Schauble
Glenn Sedgwick
The Sun Foundation
Gai and David Taylor
Athalie Williams and Tim Danielson
Lyn Williams AM
Wingate Group
Jason Yeap OAM – Mering Management Corporation
Anonymous (2)
PRINCIPAL PATRONS $5,000+
Mary Armour
Barbara Bell in memory of Elsa Bell
Bodhi Education Fund
Julia and Jim Breen
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan
Oliver Carton
John Coppock OAM and Lyn Coppock
Perri Cutten and Jo Daniell
Ann Darby in memory of Leslie J. Darby
Mary Davidson and the late Frederick Davidson AM
The Dimmick Charitable Trust
Tim and Lyn Edward
Jaan Enden
Bill Fleming
Dr John and Diana Frew
Susan Fry and Don Fry AO
Sophie Galaise and Clarence Fraser
Geelong Friends of the MSO
Dr Rhyl Wade and Dr Clem Gruen
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Hilary Hall in memory of Wilma Collie
Louis J Hamon OAM
Nereda Hanlon and Michael Hanlon AM
Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow
Dr Alastair Jackson AM
Paul and Amy Jasper
Suzanne Kirkham
Hyon-Ju Newman
Dr Elizabeth A Lewis AM
Sherry Li
Dr Caroline Liow
Gary McPherson
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
The Mercer Family Foundation
Marie Morton FRSA
Anne Neil in memory of Murray A. Neil
Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield
Ken Ong OAM
Bruce Parncutt AO
Professor Sam Ricketson and Dr Rosemary Ayton
Andrew and Judy Rogers
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
The Rosemary Norman Foundation
Guy Ross
The Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine Family Foundation
Helen Silver AO and Harrison Young
Anita Simon
Supporters
23
Brian Snape AM
Dr Michael Soon
Dawna Wright and Peter Riedel
ASSOCIATE PATRONS $2,500+
Carolyn Baker
Marlyn Bancroft and Peter Bancroft OAM
Sue and Barry Peake
Sascha O. Becker
Janet H Bell
Alan and Dr Jennifer Breschkin
Patricia Brockman
Drs John D L Brookes and Lucy V Hanlon
Stuart Brown
Lynne Burgess
Dr Lynda Campbell
Janet Chauvel and the late Dr Richard
Chauvel
Katherine Cusack
Leo de Lange
Dr Paul Nisselle AM
Elaine Walters OAM
Barry Fradkin OAM and Dr Pam Fradkin
Carrillo Gantner AC and Ziyin Gantner
Kim and Robert Gearon
Steinicke Family
Janette Gill
Goldberg Family
Goldschlager Family Charitable Foundation
Jennifer Gorog
Catherine Gray
Susan and Gary Hearst
Hartmut and Ruth Hofmann
Jenny Tatchell
John Jones
Mrs Qian Li
The Cuming Bequest
Margaret and John Mason OAM
H E McKenzie
Dr Isabel McLean
Ian Merrylees
Alan and Dorothy Pattison
David and Nancy Price
Peter Priest
Ruth and Ralph Renard
Peter and Carolyn Rendit
Tom and Elizabeth Romanowski
Liliane Rusek and Alexander Ushakoff
Jeffrey Sher KC and Diana Sher OAM
Barry Spanger
Peter J Stirling
Clayton and Christina Thomas
Janet Whiting AM
Shirley and Jeffrey Zajac
Anonymous (4)
PLAYER PATRONS $1,000+
Dr Sally Adams
Anita and Graham Anderson
Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Society
Geoffrey and Vivienne Baker
Allen and Kathryn Bloom
Michael Bowles and Alma Gill
Joyce Bown
Youth Music Foundation
Professor Ian Brighthope
Miranda Brockman
Nigel Broughton and Sheena Broughton
Suzanne Brown OAM and the late Harvey Brown
Jill and Christopher Buckley
Dr Robin Burns and Dr Roger Douglas
Ronald and Kate Burnstein
Kaye Cleary
John and Mandy Collins
Dr Daryl Daley and Nola Daley
Panch Das and Laurel Young-Das
Caroline Davies
Michael Davies
Natasha Davies for the Trikojus Education Fund
Rick and Sue Deering
Suzanne Dembo
John and Anne Duncan
Jane Edmanson OAM
Diane Fisher
Grant Fisher and Helen Bird
Alex Forrest
Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher
24
Supporters
Applebay Pty Ltd
David and Esther Frenkiel OAM
Anthony Garvey and Estelle O’Callaghan
David I Gibbs AM and Susie O’Neill
Sonia Gilderdale
Dr Celia Godfrey
Dr Marged Goode
Dr Sandra Hacker AO and Mr Ian Kennedy AM
Dawn Hales
David Hardy
Tilda and the late Brian Haughney
Cathy Henry
Dr Jennifer Henry
Dr Keith Higgins
Anthony and Karen Ho
Jenny and Peter Hordern
Katherine Horwood
Penelope Hughes
Shyama Jayaswal
Basil and Rita Jenkins
Sandy Jenkins
Sue Johnston
John Kaufman
Angela Kayser
Drs Bruce and Natalie Kellett
Anne and Leonard Kennedy
Tim Knaggs
Professor David Knowles and Dr Anne McLachlan
Dr Jerry Koliha and Marlene Krelle
Jane Kunstler
Ann Lahore
Kerry Landman
Kathleen and Coran Lang
Bryan Lawrence
Phil Lewis
Andrew Lockwood
Elizabeth H Loftus
Chris and Anna Long
Gabe Lopata
John MacLeod
Eleanor & Phillip Mancini
Aaron McConnell
Wayne McDonald and Kay Schroer
Ray McHenry
John and Rosemary McLeod
Don and Anne Meadows
Dr Eric Meadows
Professor Geoffrey Metz
Sylvia Miller
Ian Morrey and Geoffrey Minter
Anthony and Anna Morton
Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James
Roger Parker
Ian Penboss
Kerryn Pratchett
Professor Charles Qin OAM and Kate Ritchie
Eli Raskin
Jan and Keith Richards
James Ring
Dr Peter Rogers and Cathy Rogers OAM
Dr Ronald and Elizabeth Rosanove
Marie Rowland
Marshall Segan in memory of Berek Segan
OBE and Marysia Segan
Martin and Susan Shirley
P Shore
John E Smith
Dr Peter Strickland
Dr Joel Symons and Liora Symons
Russell Taylor and Tara Obeyesekere
Geoffrey Thomlinson
Andrew and Penny Torok
Christina Turner
Ann and Larry Turner
Leon and Sandra Velik
The Reverend Noel Whale
Edward & Paddy White
Nic and Ann Willcock
Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian Wills Cooke
Robert and Diana Wilson
Richard Withers
Lorraine Woolley
Anonymous (12)
25 Supporters
OVERTURE PATRONS $500+
Margaret Abbey PSM
Jane Allan and Mark Redmond
Mario M Anders
Jenny Anderson
Dr Judith Armstrong and Robyn Dalziel
Benevity Australia Online Giving Foundation
Mr Peter Batterham
Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk
Linda Brennan
Dr Robert Brook
Elizabeth Brown
Suzie Brown OAM and the late Harvey Brown
John Brownbill
Roger and Coll Buckle
Cititec Systems
Charmaine Collins
Dr Sheryl Coughlin and Paul Coughlin
Judith Cowden in memory of violinist
Margaret Cowden
Dr Oliver Daly and Matilda Daly
Merrowyn Deacon
Bruce Dudon
Melissa and Aran Fitzgerald
Brian Florence
Elizabeth Foster
Mary Gaidzkar
Simon Gaites
David and Geraldine Glenny
Hugo and Diane Goetze
Louise Gourlay OAM
Jan and the late Robert Green
George Hampel AM KC and Felicity Hampel AM SC
Geoff Hayes
Jim Hickey
William Holder
Clive and Joyce Hollands
Rod Home
R A Hook
Gillian Horwood
Geoff and Denise Illing
Wendy Johnson
John Keys
Belinda and Malcolm King
Janet and Ross Lapworth
Paschalina Leach
Dr Jenny Lewis
Sharon Li
Dr Susan Linton
The Podcast Reader
Janice Mayfield
Shirley A McKenzie
Dr Alan Meads and Sandra Boon
Marie Misiurak
Joan Mullumby
Dr Judith S Nimmo
Estelle O’Callaghan
Brendan O’Donnell
David Oppenheim
Sarah Patterson
Pauline and David Lawton
Adriana and Sienna Pesavento
Geoffrey Ravenscroft
Alfonso Reina and Marjanne Rook
Professor John Rickard
Dr Anne Ryan
Viorica Samson
Carolyn Sanders
Dr Nora Scheinkestel
Julia Schlapp
Madeline Soloveychik
Dr Alex Starr
Dyan Stewart
Ruth Stringer
Tom Sykes
Reverend Angela Thomas
Rosemary Warnock
Amanda Watson
Deborah Whithear and Dr Kevin Whithear OAM
Dr Susan Yell
Daniel Yosua
Anonymous (15)
26 Supporters
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE
Jenny Anderson
David Angelovich
G C Bawden and L de Kievit
Lesley Bawden
Joyce Bown
Mrs Jenny Bruckner and the late Mr John Bruckner
Ken Bullen
Peter A Caldwell
Luci and Ron Chambers
Beryl Dean
Sandra Dent
Alan Egan JP
Gunta Eglite
Marguerite Garnon-Williams
Drs L C Gruen and R W Wade
Louis J Hamon AOM
Charles Hardman
Carol Hay
Jennifer Henry
Graham Hogarth
Rod Home
Lyndon Horsburgh
Tony Howe
Lindsay and Michael Jacombs
Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James
John Jones
Grace Kass and the late George Kass
Sylvia Lavelle
Pauline and David Lawton
Cameron Mowat
Ruth Muir
David Orr
Matthew O’Sullivan
Rosia Pasteur
Penny Rawlins
Joan P Robinson
Anne Roussac-Hoyne and Neil Roussac
Michael Ryan and Wendy Mead
Andrew Serpell and Anne Kieni Serpell
Jennifer Shepherd
Suzette Sherazee
Dr Gabriela and Dr George Stephenson
Pamela Swansson
Lillian Tarry
Tam Vu and Dr Cherilyn Tillman
Mr and Mrs R P Trebilcock
Peter and Elisabeth Turner
Michael Ulmer AO
The Hon. Rosemary Varty
Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian Wills Cooke
Mark Young
Anonymous (19)
The MSO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Estates:
Norma Ruth Atwell
Angela Beagley
Christine Mary Bridgart
The Cuming Bequest
Margaret Davies
Neilma Gantner
The Hon Dr Alan Goldberg AO QC
Enid Florence Hookey
Gwen Hunt
Family and Friends of James Jacoby
Audrey Jenkins
Joan Jones
Pauline Marie Johnston
C P Kemp
Peter Forbes MacLaren
Joan Winsome Maslen
Lorraine Maxine Meldrum
Prof Andrew McCredie
Jean Moore
Joan P Robinson
Maxwell Schultz
Miss Sheila Scotter AM MBE
Marion A I H M Spence
Molly Stephens
Gwennyth St John
Halinka Tarczynska-Fiddian
Jennifer May Teague
Albert Henry Ullin
Jean Tweedie
Herta and Fred B Vogel
Dorothy Wood
27 Supporters
COMMISSIONING CIRCLE
Mary Armour
Cecilie Hall and the Late Hon Michael Watt KC
Tim and Lyn Edward
Kim Williams AM
Weis Family
FIRST NATIONS CIRCLE
John and Lorraine Bates
Colin Golvan AM KC and Dr Deborah Golvan
Sascha O. Becker
Maestro Jaime Martín
Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence
The Kate and Stephen Shelmerdine Family Foundation
Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
Jason Yeap OAM – Mering Management Corporation
ADOPT A MUSICIAN
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan
Roger Young
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Rohan de Korte, Philippa West
Tim and Lyn Edward
John Arcaro
Dr John and Diana Frew
Rosie Turner
Sophie Galaise and Clarence Fraser
Stephen Newton
Dr Mary-Jane Gething AO
Monica Curro
The Gross Foundation
Matthew Tomkins
Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade
Robert Cossom
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Saul Lewis
Nereda Hanlon and Michael Hanlon AM
Abbey Edlin
Margaret Jackson AC
Nicolas Fleury
Di Jameson and Frank Mercurio
Elina Fashki, Benjamin Hanlon, Tair Khisambeev, Christopher Moore
Dr Elizabeth A Lewis AM
Anthony Chataway
David Li AM and Angela Li
Dale Barltrop
Gary McPherson
Rachel Shaw
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
Craig Hill
Anne Neil
Eleanor Mancini
Hyon-Ju Newman
Patrick Wong
Newton Family in memory of Rae Rothfield Cong Gu
The Rosemary Norman Foundation
Ann Blackburn
Andrew and Judy Rogers
Michelle Wood
Glenn Sedgwick
Tiffany Cheng, Shane Hooton
Dr Martin Tymms and Patricia Nilsson
Natasha Thomas Anonymous
Prudence Davis, Rachel Tobin
HONORARY APPOINTMENTS
Life Members
Mr Marc Besen AC
John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC
Sir Elton John CBE
Harold Mitchell AC
Lady Potter AC CMRI
Jeanne Pratt AC
Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
Anonymous
MSO Ambassador
Geoffrey Rush AC
The MSO honours the memory of Life Members
Mrs Eva Besen AO
John Brockman OAM
The Honourable Alan Goldberg AO QC
Roger Riordan AM
Ila Vanrenen
28 Supporters
MSO ARTISTIC FAMILY
Jaime Martín
Chief Conductor
Xian Zhang
Principal Guest Conductor
Benjamin Northey
Principal Conductor in Residence
Carlo Antonioli
Cybec Assistant Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis CBE
Conductor Laureate
Hiroyuki Iwaki †
Conductor Laureate (1974–2006)
Warren Trevelyan-Jones
MSO Chorus Director
Siobhan Stagg
Soloist in Residence
Gondwana Voices
Ensemble in Residence
Christian Li
Young Artist in Association
Mary Finsterer
Composer in Residence
Melissa Douglas
Cybec Young Composer in Residence
Christopher Moore
Creative Producer, MSO Chamber
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO
MSO First Nations Creative Chair
Dr Anita Collins
Creative Chair for Learning and Engagement
Artistic Ambassadors
Tan Dun
Lu Siqing
MSO BOARD
Chairman
David Li AM
Co-Deputy Chairs
Di Jameson
Helen Silver AO
Managing Director
Sophie Galaise
Board Directors
Shane Buggle
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Martin Foley
Lorraine Hook
Margaret Jackson AC
David Krasnostein AM
Gary McPherson
Farrel Meltzer
Edgar Myer
Glenn Sedgwick
Mary Waldron
Company Secretary
Oliver Carton
The MSO relies on your ongoing philanthropic support to sustain our artists, and support access, education, community engagement and more. We invite our supporters to get close to the MSO through a range of special events.
The MSO welcomes your support at any level. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible, and supporters are recognised as follows:
$500+ (Overture)
$1,000+ (Player)
$2,500+ (Associate)
$5,000+ (Principal)
$10,000+ (Maestro)
$20,000+ (Impresario)
$50,000+ (Virtuoso)
$100,000+ (Platinum)
29
Supporters
Principal Partner
Premier Partners
Education Partner
Major Partners
Orchestral Training
Partner
Government Partners
Venue Partner
Supporting Partners
Thank you to our Partners
Quest Southbank
Bows for Strings
Ernst & Young
