Founded by the monastery's abbot, Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, and directed by Nikon Zhila, the Moscow Sretensky Choir now sings the Divine Liturgy regularly at the Sretensky Monastery as well as at other locations; it frequently provides music for services led by Alexei II, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, at the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Kremlin. In addition, according to the Choir's website, Zhila and his singers pursue an ongoing project to research, arrange and perform older Russian sacred music, from ancient chant to liturgical works composed — and suppressed — during the Communist era.
The Choir is undertaking this North American and round-the-world tour in celebration of the reunification this year of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, a once-bitter opponent which maintained a separate organization and hierarchy throughout the Communist era. The tour's concert program includes four liturgical works and 19 folk songs and romances.
The tour itinerary includes:
- Sept. 4 - New York, NY - Avery Fisher Hall - www.lincolncenter.org
- Sept. 6 - Boston, MA Cutler Majestic Theatre - www.maj.org
- Sept. 8 - Toronto, ON - Toronto Centre for the Arts - www.ticketmaster.ca
- Sept. 12 - Washington, DC - Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress - www.ticketmaster.com
- Sept. 14 - San Francisco, CA - Davies Symphony Hall - www.cityboxoffice.com
After departing San Francisco, the Choir continues on to Melbourne (Sept. 21), Sydney (Sept. 23), Geneva (Sept. 27), Berlin (Sept. 28), London (Sept. 30) and Paris (Oct. 4).
In addition, the Sretensky Choir will provide music for services at Russian Orthodox churches in each city on the world tour. For a schedule of those services, visit www.pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/071005174439.
