ABERTILLERY ORPHEUS MALE CHOIR CÔR MEIBION ABERTYLERI	FOUNDED 1908 PATRON: Robert Lloyd CBE Site updated:12 September, 2007

St Petersburg Vocal Ensemble Russicum

Abertillery town has been the latest stop for the St Petersburg Vocal Ensemble Russicum during this year's UK autumn tour. The choir having toured the UK annually since 1998.

After visiting Abertillery in October last year the choir were eagerly awaited for by all that had the privilege of hearing them the first time around and they didn't disappoint the near capacity audience at St Michael's church.

They attracted an audience swelled by the excitement and comments of those that had the opportunity of hearing the choir on their previous visit, who were treated to an evening of vocal excellence by the five professional Russian singers from the Russian Orthodox Church's of St Petersburg, whose aim is to promote traditional and contemporary Russian religious song.

Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir conducted by Stephen Bard and accompanied by Penny Hughes opened the evening's performance before taking a back seat as the Russicum ensemble who are cappella (voice only) singers, performing the first half of their programme. This consisted of Russian Orthodox Church Music, appearing dressed in Russian national costumes to sing a second half of Russian Folk Songs with each of the singers given the opportunity of singing solo performances, securing a standing ovation at the evening's end from a very appreciative Abertillery public.

Reverend Michael Beasley giving a vote of thanks before the singing of the national anthem to close an evening of superb singing performed to the highest standard.

Following the concert the Ensemble joined with the choir and the people of Abertillery for a social evening before travelling onto their next concert performance in Swansea.

We look forward to receiving the St Petersburg Vocal Ensemble Russicum again hopefully in the not too distant future.

Russicum can be visited on their web site
www.russicum.bezplatny.cz

GWENT GAZETTE, October 3rd 2002

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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

 

On Tuesday, October 30 at St. Michael's Church, the large majority of music lovers missed a unique performance by the St. Petersburg Vocal Ensemble Russicum.

Supported by Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir, the five professional singers from the Russian Orthodox Church, gave an outstanding performance which merited a much larger audience.

The first half of the concert was opened by the Orpheus Choir conducted by Stephen Bard and accompanied by Penny Hughes. The rest of the time up until the interval consisted of Russian Orthodox Church Music mainly from the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

It was explained by there coordinator Miss Elena Smirnova that there are no installments in the churches and processional singers perform all music, which provide fifty percent of the services.

The Abertillery Orpheus choir again opened the second half and the visitors gave a series of Russian and Ukrainian folk songs, which allowed five to give solo performances. The quality and variety of the performance, which was conducted by the well-known Kalinka, fascinated the audience. The vote of thanks was given by the vicar Reverend Michael Beasley

Gwent Gazette October 30th 2001