MusicWeb International gives their “Recommended” status to the Latvian Radio Choir’s recording of the Komitas Divine Liturgy:
“The Latvian Radio Choir, a professional body of around 25 singers, have exceptional skills.… there is a clarity to their expression. Hovhannes Badalyan, who sings the parts allocated to the priest, is himself a priest of the Armenian Church, as well as a soloist for the Armenian National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. He has a fine, declamatory voice, appropriate for his role here, where much of the music has this character.… it is astonishingly beautiful throughout, with much subtle variation. Recordings of Gregorian chant have been justly popular, but too often for their mystical atmosphere, rather than for their interpretation of texts which the chant is meant to serve. As with the Latin texts, so too the texts here are inspired by deep faith.”
—Michael Wilkinson, MusicWeb International
See the full review on MusicWeb International
