The Russian State Symphonic Cappella under the energetic direction of Polyansky continue their traversal of Bortnyansky’s monumental production of sacred concertos with an entire disc devoted to those for double choir. As always‚ Bortnyansky delights in the contrasting of textures and dynamics in a spontaneous way that very frequently recalls a composer such as Handel. The joyous antiphonal writing to be found in many of the works on this recording reinforce this impression‚ and the style is meat and drink to Polyansky’s singers. The feeling of cohesion in the Seventh‚ for example (Glory to God in the highest)‚ is achieved‚ in spite of the colourful contrasts that characterise the work‚ completely naturally and convincingly. While grand quasi­operatic moments such as the first movement of the Fifth and the often Bachian writing characteristic of‚ for example‚ the Eighth‚ are given suitably splendid and powerful renditions‚ the more reflective passages – which are far more abundant in the works in double­choir format than one might suppose – are also sung with tremendous sensitivity‚ and a vital feeling of sheer vocal strength underlying those pianissimos‚ as one may hear beautifully demonstrated in the Ninth. Without a doubt this is another triumph in a series that has definitively rehabilitated the much­maligned Bortnyansky in Western eyes.