{"id":7,"date":"2021-10-04T20:24:22","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T20:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rccny.org\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2022-09-04T02:36:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T02:36:08","slug":"about-the-chorus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/?page_id=7","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffffcc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#Home_recordings\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Home_recordings\">Recordings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Home_press\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Home_press\">Press<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Home_MeetArtisticDirector\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Home_MeetArtisticDirector\">Meet the Artistic Director<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Home_RMASA\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Home_RMASA\">Russian Musical Arts Society of America<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014-1568x882.png 1568w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Chorus-Picture-Mar-2014.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Russian Chamber Chorus of New York (RCCNY) was founded in 1984 by Artistic Director and Conductor Nikolai Kachanov. Over the course of thirty-five years, the chorus has become America&#8217;s preeminent Russian vocal ensemble and one of the world&#8217;s greatest ambassadors of the Russian creative spirit. Known for its stylistic versatility, richness of sound and subtlety of expression, RCCNY commands a wide repertoire, from ancient liturgical chants to world premieres by leading contemporary composers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"Concert_headline has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#800000\"><strong>Performances<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>RCCNY is honored to have participated in the historic concert series <em><strong>Music and Dictatorship: Russia under Stalin<\/strong><\/em>, with Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, under <strong>Vladimir Ashkenazy<\/strong>, at Carnegie Hall in 2003. The chorus performed <strong>Prokofiev<\/strong>&#8216;s <em>Hail to Stalin<\/em>, an excerpt from his film score for <em>Ivan the Terrible<\/em>, <strong>Shostakovich<\/strong>&#8216;s score for <em>The Fall of Berlin<\/em>, <em>Anti-formalist Rayok<\/em>, and his <em>Symphony No. 13, \u201dBabi Yar<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Ashkenazy-1568x1045.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Rehearsal with Vladimir Ashkenavy and Czech Philharmonic for &#8220;Babi Yar&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Other Carnegie Hall performances include the American premiere of <strong>Sergei Taneyev<\/strong>\u2019s opera <em>Agamemnon<\/em> with the Manhattan Philharmonic under <strong>Peter Tiboris<\/strong> and the <strong>Aquila Theatre Company<\/strong>, featuring <strong>Olympia Dukakis<\/strong>; <em>Anti-formalist Rayok<\/em> with the <strong>Moscow Virtuosi<\/strong> under <strong>Vladimir Spivakov<\/strong>; the American premiere of <strong>Mikis Theodorakis<\/strong>&#8216; opera Electra; <em>Mahler&#8217;s Symphony No. 2<\/em> with the <strong>Kirov Orchestra<\/strong> under <strong>Valery Gergiev<\/strong> (<em>New York Times<\/em> reviewer <strong>Allan Kozinn<\/strong> described this performance as \u201cglorious\u201c); <strong>Tchaikovsky&#8217;s<\/strong> cantata \u201c<em>Moscow<\/em>\u201d with the <strong>American-Russian Youth Orchestra<\/strong> under <strong>Leon Botstein<\/strong> (Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood); <strong>Prokofiev<\/strong>&#8216;s cantata <em>Alexander Nevsky<\/em> with the <strong>St. Petersburg Philharmonic<\/strong>, under <strong>Yuri Temirkanov<\/strong>; as well as participation in the <strong>Stars of the Kirov Celebrate Russia Day<\/strong> event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RCCNY performed at the Guggenheim Museum, as part of the opening celebration surrounding the opening of the exhibit <strong><em>Russia!<\/em><\/strong> The chorus appeared on the nationally acclaimed NPR radio program \u201cA Prairie Home Companion\u201d with <strong>Garrison Keillor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"425\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Nikolai-and-Garrison-Keillor.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Nikolai-and-Garrison-Keillor.jpg 638w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Nikolai-and-Garrison-Keillor-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><figcaption>From RCCNY&#8217;s appearance on &#8220;Prairie Home Companion&#8221;<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>RCCNY performances also include <strong>Rachmaninoff<\/strong>&#8216;s monumental <em>Vespers: All-Night Vigil<\/em> to sold-out audiences at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; <strong>Rachmaninoff<\/strong>&#8216;s <strong>Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/strong> at the New York Festival of Sacred Music, produced by <strong>John Schaefer<\/strong> and <strong>Philip Glass<\/strong>. This event, being part of a World Festival of Sacred Music that spanned two years and 19 cities, was simulcast on WNYC-FM. RCCNY also performed at the \u201cRe-Encountering Rachmaninoff\u201d festival, where <strong>James Oestreich<\/strong> (<em>The New York Times<\/em>) praised the group for the \u201csuppleness and otherworldliness of its sound.\u201d <strong>Willa Conrad<\/strong> (<em>The Star-Ledger<\/em>) called RCCNY \u201can inspired choice\u201d and hailed the chorus\u2019s \u201cstylistic purity\u201d and \u201cexciting, spontaneous performance.\u201d RCCNY&#8217;s performance of <strong>Tchaikovsky<\/strong>\u2019s <em>Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/em> at the Bard College \u201cTchaikovsky Rediscoveries\u201d (American premiere) festival was called \u201csplendid, radiant, and sonorous\u201d by <strong>Paul Griffiths<\/strong> (<em>The New York Times<\/em>). <strong>James Oestreich<\/strong> (<em>The New York Times<\/em>) called the chorus\u2019s performance of <strong>Yuri Yukechev<\/strong>\u2019s music, \u201csuperbly prepared and deftly realized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus performed a sold-out program celebrating the 300th anniversary of the city of St. Petersburg as the culminating event of the Harriman Institute Symposium, <em>St. Petersburg Through American Eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RCCNY collaborated with <strong>The Canticum Novum Singers<\/strong> to perform <strong>Schnittke<\/strong>\u2019s masterpiece <em>Concerto for Choir<\/em>, and with <strong>The Riverside Church Choir<\/strong> in the program \u201cReflections: Ten Years Later\u201d; and also with the <strong>Bachanalia Chamber Orchestra <\/strong>and <strong>Nina Beilina<\/strong>, in a rare full-score performance of <strong>Alexander Gretchaninoff<\/strong>\u2019s <em>Liturgia Domestica<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus created three concert series: \u201cSpirit of Old Russia,\u201d \u201cParallels and Crossings,\u201d and \u201cMusic without Borders..\u201d For the \u201cMusic without Borders\u201d concert series the chorus performed music from Ukraine, Belorussia (Belarus), Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Tuva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Performances by RCCNY have been featured on \u201cNew Sounds\u201d with <strong>John Schaefer<\/strong> and \u201cAround New York\u201d with Fred Child (both on WNYC-FM); and \u201cThe Choral Mix\u201d with Kent Tritle (WQXR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/choir-2004-web.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" style=\"color:#800000\"><strong>Dedication to Contemporary and Underexposed Works<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus brought ancient <em>znamenny<\/em> chants, previously banned in the Soviet Union, to American audiences. The Library of Congress used these chants for its documentary Old Believers, part of the Great Heritage series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus has performed contemporary music by composers including <strong>Arvo P\u00e4rt<\/strong>, <strong>John Tavener<\/strong>, <strong>Feliksas Bajoras<\/strong>, <strong>Victor Copytsko<\/strong>, <strong>Krzysztof Pendercki<\/strong>, <strong>Efrem Podgaits<\/strong>, <strong>Alfred Schnittke<\/strong>, <strong>Mikhail Zeiger<\/strong>, and others, as well as original compositions and arrangements by <strong>Nikolai Kachanov<\/strong>. Many of these works were commissioned by RCCNY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RCCNY premiered <strong>Alexei Haieff<\/strong>&#8216;s long-lost masterworks, <em>Holy Week<\/em> and <em>Easter<\/em>, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chorus&#8217;s wide repertoire includes music from many other countries, as well as by American composers. A recent RCCNY program, &#8220;Currents of Jewish Classical Tradition,&#8221; included music by American, Israeli and Russian composers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"Home_recordings\" style=\"color:#800000\"><strong>Recordings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/LITURGY.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/LITURGY.jpg 350w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/LITURGY-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/LITURGY-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Tchaikovsky:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Chosen by <em>New York Times<\/em> critic <strong>James Oestreich<\/strong> to be number four on his list of the Top Ten Classical CDs of 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n<div ><form target='_blank' action='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr' method='post'><input type='hidden' name='cmd' value='_xclick' \/><input type='hidden' name='business' value='NPBUXTHKBW29U' \/><input type='hidden' name='item_name' value='Tchaikovksy: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom' \/><input type='hidden' name='currency_code' value='USD' \/><input type='hidden' name='amount' value='15.00' \/><input type='hidden' name='lc' value='EN_US'><input type='hidden' name='no_note' value=''><input type='hidden' name='paymentaction' value='sale'><input type='hidden' name='return' value='' \/><input type='hidden' name='bn' value='WPPlugin_SP'><input type='hidden' name='cancel_return' value='' \/><input style='border: none;' class='paypalbuttonimage' type='image' src='https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_buynow_LG.gif' border='0' name='submit' alt='Make your payments with PayPal. It is free, secure, effective.'><img alt='' border='0' style='border:none;display:none;' src='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/EN_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif' width='1' height='1'><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TCHAIKOVSKY-VESPERS.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TCHAIKOVSKY-VESPERS.jpg 350w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TCHAIKOVSKY-VESPERS-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/TCHAIKOVSKY-VESPERS-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Tchaikovsky:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Vespers: All-Night Vigil<\/em>&nbsp;(Koch International). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">A \u201cluxurious, rich interpretation\u201d of this seminal liturgical work (<em>Detroit Free Press<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#800000\"><strong>Temporarily Out of Stock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MY-HEART-IS-READY.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MY-HEART-IS-READY.jpg 350w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MY-HEART-IS-READY-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MY-HEART-IS-READY-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Yuri Yukechev:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>My Heart Is Ready<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>By Candlelight<\/em>&nbsp;<br>(Helicon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Two cantatas by this contemporary Siberian composer, \u201csuperbly prepared, richly imagined and deftly realized&#8221; (<em>The New York Times<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div ><form target='_blank' action='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr' method='post'><input type='hidden' name='cmd' value='_xclick' \/><input type='hidden' name='business' value='NPBUXTHKBW29U' \/><input type='hidden' name='item_name' value='Yukechev: My Heart is Ready' \/><input type='hidden' name='currency_code' value='USD' \/><input type='hidden' name='amount' value='15.00' \/><input type='hidden' name='lc' value='EN_US'><input type='hidden' name='no_note' value=''><input type='hidden' name='paymentaction' value='sale'><input type='hidden' name='return' value='' \/><input type='hidden' name='bn' value='WPPlugin_SP'><input type='hidden' name='cancel_return' value='' \/><input style='border: none;' class='paypalbuttonimage' type='image' src='https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_buynow_LG.gif' border='0' name='submit' alt='Make your payments with PayPal. It is free, secure, effective.'><img alt='' border='0' style='border:none;display:none;' src='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/EN_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif' width='1' height='1'><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/BENEVOLENCE_800x800_150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/BENEVOLENCE_800x800_150.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/BENEVOLENCE_800x800_150-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/BENEVOLENCE_800x800_150-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/BENEVOLENCE_800x800_150-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Nikolai Kachanov:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Benevolence<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Two transcendent compositions interweaving East and West:&nbsp;<em>Benevolence<\/em>, a choral cycle, and&nbsp;<em>Reflections on Stanzas from the Book of Dzyan<\/em>, for chorus, synthesizer and trumpets.<\/p>\n\n\n<div ><form target='_blank' action='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr' method='post'><input type='hidden' name='cmd' value='_xclick' \/><input type='hidden' name='business' value='NPBUXTHKBW29U' \/><input type='hidden' name='item_name' value='Kachanov: Benevolence' \/><input type='hidden' name='currency_code' value='USD' \/><input type='hidden' name='amount' value='15.00' \/><input type='hidden' name='lc' value='EN_US'><input type='hidden' name='no_note' value=''><input type='hidden' name='paymentaction' value='sale'><input type='hidden' name='return' value='' \/><input type='hidden' name='bn' value='WPPlugin_SP'><input type='hidden' name='cancel_return' value='' \/><input style='border: none;' class='paypalbuttonimage' type='image' src='https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_buynow_LG.gif' border='0' name='submit' alt='Make your payments with PayPal. It is free, secure, effective.'><img alt='' border='0' style='border:none;display:none;' src='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/EN_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif' width='1' height='1'><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"772\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CD_Carols.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CD_Carols.jpg 771w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CD_Carols-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CD_Carols-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/CD_Carols-768x769.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><em>Carols and Songs<\/em>&nbsp;features Ukrainian carols, arranged by Maestro Kachanov, Rachmaninoff&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Six Songs for Women&#8217;s Voices<\/em>&nbsp;and his&nbsp;<em>Vocalise<\/em>, selections from Grechaninoff&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Liturgia Domestica<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>Shchedryk<\/em>, the Ukrainian folk song known as&nbsp;<em>Carol of the Bells<\/em>. \u201cAn outstanding musical gift for the holidays&#8230; attractive compositions for every taste&#8230; singing with spirit, musicality and finesse&#8230; will be thoroughly enjoyed\u201d (<em>Musica Russica<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div ><form target='_blank' action='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr' method='post'><input type='hidden' name='cmd' value='_xclick' \/><input type='hidden' name='business' value='NPBUXTHKBW29U' \/><input type='hidden' name='item_name' value='Winter Celebration: Carols and Songs' \/><input type='hidden' name='currency_code' value='USD' \/><input type='hidden' name='amount' value='15.00' \/><input type='hidden' name='lc' value='EN_US'><input type='hidden' name='no_note' value=''><input type='hidden' name='paymentaction' value='sale'><input type='hidden' name='return' value='' \/><input type='hidden' name='bn' value='WPPlugin_SP'><input type='hidden' name='cancel_return' value='' \/><input style='border: none;' class='paypalbuttonimage' type='image' src='https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_buynow_LG.gif' border='0' name='submit' alt='Make your payments with PayPal. It is free, secure, effective.'><img alt='' border='0' style='border:none;display:none;' src='https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/EN_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif' width='1' height='1'><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Home_press\"><strong>Press<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/The-Epoch-Times-Logo-300x300-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/The-Epoch-Times-Logo-300x300-1.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/The-Epoch-Times-Logo-300x300-1-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Read the&nbsp;<em>Epoch Times&nbsp;<\/em>article of January 2, 2017, profiling RCCNY&#8217;s concert bridging the works of the legendary poets <strong>William Shakespeare<\/strong> and <strong>Alexander Pushkin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" href=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Epoch-Times-article.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#800000\">Read review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Melodiya_logo.svg_.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-286\" width=\"258\" height=\"213\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><em><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><em>Melodiya<\/em> <\/em>Magazine (Moscow) profiled the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York and artistic director Nikolai Kachanov, saying \u201cthe primary goal of the chorus \u2014 to make Russian music known to American audiences and encourage its performance by American choirs \u2014 has a meaning beyond just the boundaries of the concert hall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" href=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Melodiya-Article-Russian.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#800000\">Read in Russian<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background\" href=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Melodiya-Article-English.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#800000\">Read in English<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignfull is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concert Reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cExtraordinary: richly imagined and deftly realized.\u201d <br>\u2014 James R. Oestreich,&nbsp;<em>The New York Times<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWonderfully passionate, heartfelt singing.\u201d <br>\u2014 Alex Ross,&nbsp;<em>The New Yorker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe suppleness and otherworldliness of [RCCNY&#8217;s] sound here made the look of the score on the page seem impossibly square and made the secular works in the rest of the program seem all the more mundane.\u201d <br>\u2014 James R. Oestreich,&nbsp;<em>The New York Times<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWell-schooled in the richly aromatic Russian choral style that depends on resonant, velvety, deep bass voices that ripple upward through waves of purely articulated treble voices in consonant harmonies.\u201d<br>\u2014 Willa J. Conrad,&nbsp;<em>The Star-Ledger<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe performance of the Tchaikovsky Liturgy was splendid. The Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, under Nikolai Kachanov, was radiant and sonorous; and the whole Slavonic sound was effective.\u201d<br>\u2014 Paul Griffiths,&nbsp;<em>The New York Times<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>CD Reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Here is another underexposed gem of the New York music world in a piece that it has honed beautifully in recent years and now recorded. If you don&#8217;t know this work-with Rachmaninoff&#8217;s Vespers, a cornerstone of the transcendent literature of the Russian Orthodox Church-you only think you know Tchaikovsky.&#8221; <br>\u2014 James R. Oestreich,&nbsp;<em>The New York Times<\/em>, on <em><strong>Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis disc is quite simply the best recording of Tchaikovsky\u2019s Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to date. It is the first recording that treats Tchaikovsky\u2019s composition for what it is&#8211;a through-composed setting of the complete Russian Orthodox DivineLiturgy, intended by the composer for performance in church, however. Accordingly, this recording is the first to include the complete chants of the deacon, rendered with great authenticity and sonorous splendor by Protodeacon Andre Papkov of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Monastery, and the chants of the celebrant, richly and tunefully rendered by tenor Nicholas Denysenko, a graduate of St. Vladimir\u2019s Orthodox Seminary. Conductor Nikolai Kachanov, who has directed extensively in Orthodox churches, understands how to render this music in a way that does not conflict with the spirit and character of the Orthodox liturgy, unlike most earlier recordings, which employ a distinctly \u201csecular\u201d approach\u2014overly dramatic and outwardly glamorous, but ultimately lacking in inner depth. The Russian Chamber Chorus, comprised of men\u2019s and women\u2019s voices, sings with the type of transparency and clarity that does justice to this music, which was originally conceived for a chorus of boys and men. In recent years, this non-professional group has grown in stature to a level of excellence that places it alongside some of the best professional church choirs in Russia and elsewhere. The expertly written notes and translations (E only) are accurate and informative. This \u201cLimited Edition\u201d release, not available in most stores, is not to be missed!&#8221; <br>\u2014 Vladimir Morosan,&nbsp;<em>Musica Russica<\/em>, <meta charset=\"utf-8\">on <em><strong>Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cConductor Kachanov, a native of Russia, who has lived in New York since 1981, has molded his choral sound well\u2026. Intonation is also fine, and the recording, made in St. John the Divine, contributes no small part into the venture\u2026 This new one \u2026can be heartily recommended.\u201d <br>\u2014 Althouse, American Record Guide, <meta charset=\"utf-8\">on <em><strong>Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c\u2026 This disc advances a new idea of completeness \u2026. In this performance instead of a succession of &#8220;Amen&#8221; and &#8220;Lord have mercy&#8221; from the choir in the litanies, we hear the deacon (a bass) and the celebrant (a tenor), both in excellent voice, intoning the verses and invocations \u2026they [RCCNY] produce a pretty convincing sound\u2026this disc will fill your needs very well.\u201d<br>\u2014 Jerome F. Weber,&nbsp;<em>Fanfare<\/em>, <meta charset=\"utf-8\">on <em><strong>Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is none of Tchaikovsky&#8217;s melancholy or sweeping emotion in his liturgical works. Indeed, he wrote so little sacred music that this recording is worth possessing for that reason alone. Tchaikovsky was spiritually moved by the vespers and the eternal questions of life. In both the vespers and choruses, the composer is more restrained but no less sentimental. The vespers were banned during Tchaikovsky&#8217;s time as too western and have been mostly neglected since. Here, conductor Kachanov and the chorus bring a luxurious, rich interpretation to the work.\u201d<br>\u2014 Chris Ledbetter,&nbsp;<em>Detroit News and Free Press<\/em>, on <strong><em>Tchaikovsky: Vespers &amp; Three Sacred Choruses<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPrior to the appearance of this outstanding disc there have been no worthwhile recordings of this seminal work. The Russian Chamber Chorus of New York continues its high standard of artistic and professional excellence. Their singing is tuneful, well-blended, and has the clarity of texture\u2026. The interpretation displays the director&#8217;s acquaintance with a liturgically appropriate style\u2026. Everything is &#8216;as it should be.&#8217;\u201d <br>\u2014 Vladimir Morosan,&nbsp;<em>Musica Russica<\/em>, <meta charset=\"utf-8\">on <strong><em>Tchaikovsky: Vespers &amp; Three Sacred Choruses<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is simply hauntingly beautiful choral music. Yukechev\u2019s writing is quite melodic and contrapuntal, with some elements of minimalism, but for the most part it is representative of Russian choral composers\u2019 preoccupation with sonorous beauty and consonance.\u2026 Lovers of beautiful choral music should not miss this recording!\u201d <br>\u2014 Vladimir Morosan,&nbsp;<em>Musica Russica<\/em>, <meta charset=\"utf-8\">on <strong><em>Yuri Yukechev: My Heart is Ready<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Home_MeetArtisticDirector\"><strong>Meet the Artistic Director<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KACHANOV-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-213\" width=\"171\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KACHANOV-2.jpg 320w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/KACHANOV-2-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 171px) 100vw, 171px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Nikolai Kachanov<\/strong>, Founder and Artistic Director of the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, was born in Russia in the Siberian city of Barnaul, capital of the Altai Region. He holds a Ph.D. in choral conducting from the Novosibirsk Conservatory and completed his post-doctoral studies at Moscow Conservatory. In the 1970s, Kachanov taught at Novosibirsk Conservatory and performed as a choral conductor. In 1981, Maestro Kachanov moved to the United States with his wife, Tamara, a professional musician, who became the Chorus&#8217; Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kachanov is devoted to presenting new and underexposed works that illustrate Russia&#8217;s rich heritage and its contemporary spirit. He introduced audiences to the ancient chants previously banned in his homeland and completely unknown in America. The Library of Congress used these chants, performed by the chorus, for its documentary Old Believers, part of the Great Heritage series. He also created the Ussachevsky Festival of Russian-American contemporary music, which was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. Kachanov has developed several RCCNY concert series: Parallels and Crossings, Spirit of Old Russia, and Music without Borders. The latter presented many American premieres of choral music from Russia&#8217;s neighboring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kachanov has prepared large concert choruses for Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leon Botstein, Valery Gergiev, Yuri Temirkanov and Peter Tiboris; and participated in the U.S. premiere of John Tavener&#8217;s all-night vigil, The Veil of the Temple, at the 2004 Lincoln Center Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"144\" height=\"216\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/tamara-nk-benefit-2006-crop3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-222\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Nikolai Kachanov released a recording The Call in the spring of 2003. Additionally, two of his choral works, Benevolence, a five-part choral cycle set to the poetry of Nicholas Roerich, and Reflections on Stanzas from the Book of Dzyan (part of H.P. Blavatsky&#8217;s Secret Doctrine) for chorus, synthesizers and trumpets, are part of the CD recording Benevolence, released in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kachanov has been interviewed by Fred Child for NPR&#8217;s From the Village to the Concert, and on the WNYC programs Around New York with Fred Child and New Sounds and Soundcheck with John Schaefer.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/p2130172.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-225\" width=\"240\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/p2130172.jpg 343w, https:\/\/rccny.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/p2130172-214x300.jpg 214w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><figcaption>Nikolai Kachanov rehearsing at St. Ignatius, Feb. &#8217;08<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 2016 he and his wife Tamara created a new choral ensemble, The Nikolai Kachanov Singers. The group&#8217;s first performance was on September 21 at Carnegie&#8217;s Zankel Hall as part of &#8220;Music for a Sustainable Planet&#8221; where they performed Yuri Boguinia&#8217;s &#8220;Path to Kailas&#8221;, commissioned and dedicated to the Nikolai Kachanov Singers. Also on October 1 at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie, the ensemble performed George Oakley&#8217;s &#8220;Stabat Mater&#8221; dedicated to Nikolai Kachanov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Home_RMASA\"><strong>Russian Musical Arts Society of America, Inc.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RMASA<\/strong>&nbsp;was founded in 1985 for the express purpose of creating and supporting the Russian Chamber Chorus and Early Russian Music Ensemble of New York. RMASA promotes intercultural awareness by commissioning, presenting and recording new or unknown works for American audiences, bringing contemporary composers and performers from Russia, and publishing rare and lesser-known music, including early Slavic liturgical music. Since its founding, RMASA has sponsored concerts in various cities in the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Russian Musical Arts Society of America, Inc.<br><br>e-mail:<a href=\"mailto: support@rccny.org\">support@rccny.or<\/a>g<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recordings Press Meet the Artistic Director Russian Musical Arts Society of America Russian Chamber Chorus of New York (RCCNY) was founded in 1984 by Artistic Director and Conductor Nikolai Kachanov. Over the course of thirty-five years, the chorus has become America&#8217;s preeminent Russian vocal ensemble and one of the world&#8217;s greatest ambassadors of the Russian&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/rccny.org\/?page_id=7\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">About Us<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":144,"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1920,"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions\/1920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rccny.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}