The Concerto for Choir, premiered in 1986, is one of Alfred Schnittke's most important vocal works; The tradition of Russian-Orthodox church music is renewed and re-thought in him. Schnittke composed his Concerto for Choir in the mid-1980s. The a-cappella-work in Russian is based on a medieval prayer collection. Schnittke processes elements of orthodox church music and translates them stylistically into the present. The result is choral music in large format: mystical, archaic and of majestic lu...

O Herrscher allen lebendigen Seins, der Du uns kostbare Gaben schenkst - Diese Lieder, deren Verse von schwarzer Trauer bis zum Rand gefüllt, dichtete ich, der ich um die menschlichen Leidenschaften weiß - Allen denjenigen, die das Wesen dieser traurigen Worte begreifen - Dies Werk, das ich in meiner Hoffnung und in Deinem Namen begonnen, sollst Du vollenden