The Orthodox Christians of Russia have long celebrated the great mid-winter feast of the Nativity, a time of intense fasting and prayer followed by feasting. The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir brings us little-known choral music by composers such as Aleksandr Grechaninov (1864-1956) 'Voskliknite Gospodevi vsya zemlya, Op. 19 No. 2,' and Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944) ' No. 1 'Presvyataya Bogoroditse' and anonymous composers ('Dobr'ii vechir Tobi,' 'Pavochka khodit' and 'Nova radist' stala') that tell the Christmas story from the traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church. There are 20 beautiful, intense, soaring selections here, especially from mezzo-soprano soloist Olga Borodina.

The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir and their director, Nikolai Korniev, show off subbasement basses, soaring sopranos and a rich, well-blended sound in 'Russian Easter,' a group of eleven settings for Easter worship by Alexander Grechaninov, Dmitri Bortnyansky and other masters of Russian church music. The compositions were written variously from the 18th century through the present, but all stay true to the spirit and aesthetic of the Orthodox tradition. Those who find plainchant a little on the monotonous side but are still looking for a spiritual element in music will find much to admire and enjoy in these beautifully sung presentations.