Chernivtsi – Contemporary Ukrainian Organ Music

The intrepid Gail Archer travels to Ukraine for this new compilation of Ukrainian music. Actually, the final work is not contemporary but by Iwan Kryschanowskij (1867-1924) – a student of Rimsky-Korsakov. His Fantasie is a rather fine work, as is a Passacaglia by Mykola Kolessa (who died recently aged 103). The other works display a variety of progressive and tonal styles. The Riegger-Kloss organ has seen better days; however, one should try not to let the poor tuning and questionable recording quality detract from a fine account of some organ repertoire which deserves to be heard.

RUPERT GOUGH Read the full review on Agora Classica