Bath Cronicle, July 15, 1999

Academic Choir of Moscow State University: St John The Evangelist Church, South Parade, Bath

It could have been labeled a masterclass, but in truth it was a gem brought to Bath by Keith Hudson, a singer himself of many years. He happened across someone in this wonderful choir on the internet and they came to Bath.

It has to be the finest choir to have sung in Bath in my 17 years of reviewing here. It took two chords at the beginning of the evening to chill the spine and signify the portent of something special. Choir members all had scores and hardly looked at them; in front was a conductor Mirza Askerov, who conducted with every minuscule movement of every finger; those fingers worked a fine tracery of interwoven harmonies that embraced all the great Russian composers.

The words were not understandable but the enunciation was crystalline, the attack and phrase ending was dynamic and precise; the phrasing itself seamless.

                                                                                                               Reg Burnard

31^st August 1999

Dear Mr Sadovnichii

It is with great pleasure that I write to you regarding the visit of the Academic Choir of Moscow State University to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July of this year. We had been delighted to be able to accept this very fine choir (bearing in mind that approximately 50% of choral applications to come to Llangollen are not successful) and we were impressed by their organization and detailed preparations as the time of the Eisteddfod approached.

During the Eisteddfod, the choir gave excellent performances both in the competition and in the Evening Concert. I believe that the members of the choir themselves also benefited from appearing in a truly International festival, ranging from USA through the continents to New Zealand.

The University is to be congratulated on its decision to support the choir on its first visit to Eales and as the only adult choir accepted to represent Russia.

Yours sincerely
Eulanwy Davies
Music Administrator
Mayor's Office, 

                                                                                                                        Guildhall,
                                                                                                           Bath.
                                                                                                    BA1 5AW

        20^th July, 1999

Dear Rector,

I send you greetings from the citizens of Bath.

You may know that a group from the Academic Choir of Moscow State University visited the City of Bath recently to give a Concert.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Conductor and members of the Choir here at the Guildhall last Wednesday, 14^th July, and to welcome them to our beautiful City. I thoroughly enjoyed their visit and was absolutely delighted when they gave a short impromptu performance in our Council Chamber! I can say that the Choir were wonderful ambassadors for your country.

I wish you and the citizens of Moscow the very best of good fortune and success for the years to come.

Yours sincerely,

(signature)
Councillor John Bailey
MAYOR OF BATH