All Music Guide critic James Manheim gives a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating to the Latvian Radio Choir and Sigvards Klava’s recording of the Komitas Divine Liturgy:
“This version by the Latvian Radio Choir under Sigvards Klava is the first non-Armenian recording of the work (the lead soloists are Armenian). It came about at the behest of Armenia’s ambassador to Latvia, who hoped to introduce the work to a wider audience. He commissioned composer Vache Sharafyan to make a new version, here termed an arrangement. Sharafyan shortened the work to concert length (presently it just fills one CD) and added female voice parts to the original all-male work. This has raised the hackles of traditionalists in the past, and the whole thing, in addition to being a solemn piece of choral music, is a fascinating example of the tensions inherent in the adaptation of a sacred object. Sharafyan’s female voice parts have a unique subtlety that is captured well by the Latvian Radio Choir. In general, Klava gets an intriguing airy but sober sound from this remarkable group, which here offers a really offbeat item.”
—James Manheim, AllMusic
See the full review on AllMusic.com
