History of the CHOIR  is divided into three periods.  The first period lasts from the foundation of the Cathedral in 1861 until 1917. At that time professional French choristers sang according to scores with transliterations of church Slavonic texts in Latin. The repertoire consisted of items by Lvov-Bahmetev and St. Petersburg school. After 1917 with the influx of immigrants from Russia the choir was formed of former church and opera singers. It was conducted by such persons like Kibalchich, Peter Spassky. The style of performing and the repertoire were similar to St. Petersburg’s and the South Russian schools. In 1963 the third period began: at that time a youth choir at the Cathedral was founded by Yevgeny Evets. The main purpose of that choir was music education of Russian youth in emigration, acquaintance with the treasury of Russian choral art as well as representation of this art to the Western public. In 1968 Y. Evets became a precentor of the Cathedral while continuing work with the youth choir.  After his death in 1990 his son Basil took his place and worked until his death in 2007. During these years the cathedral choir has built a reputation as one of the best choirs in Russian diaspora. The main features of the choir’s style are rhythmic and intonation austerity, respect for conceptions of the authors of hymns.

 

Since 2007 the choir has been led by Archdeacon Alexander Kedrov, the son of the famous composer of sacred music Nicolas Kedrov-son. After graduation in music Archdeacon A. Kedrov studied theology at St. Sergius Theological Institute in Paris. Inheriting family musical creativity Archdeacon enriched it by singing practice at the Cathedral and stylistic traditions of the Choir and has been developing activities of the choir ensemble. For several years he has been conducting the male ensemble which has performed successfully in France and various countries of Western Europe. In 2001 the vocal ensemble won the first prize at the international competition in Minsk, Belarus.

The repertoire of the choir of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral consists first and foremost of everyday chants as it is the church choir and sings at divine services and performs occasional religious rites. In addition there are works of all styles of Russian church singing from Bortniansky to composers of the twentieth century in the choir’s repertoire. They are the authors of the Moscow school and emigration:  A. Kastalsky, P. Chesnokov, Y. Evets, Kedrov-father and Kedrov-son etc.

The choir singers are amateurs, parishioners of the Cathedral.

 

 

St. JOHN'S church  (Vabaduse väljak 1, Tallinn)

The CHOIR from ST.ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL in Paris

France