Alexander Knaifel: Chapter Eight

Upon first encountering Chapter Eight, Mstislav Rostropovich expressed his enthusiasm for the profound beauty of this composition for church, choirs, and cello. The Russian composer Alexander Knaifel (1943–2024) conceived Chapter Eight as a "communal prayer" intended to resonate in the most resonant church spaces. He drew inspiration from the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. Although Knaifel described his work as "without plot or drama," it is by no means lacking in mystery, as the subtle blending of sounds is central. In this composition, cellist Patrick Demenga is invited not to act as a soloist, but to connect with the shared expressiveness of the three choirs, conducted by the Estonian conductor Andres Mustonen, and to surrender to the all-encompassing atmosphere of the church. The album was recorded in the Jesuit Church in Lucerne, a Baroque building long renowned for its exceptional acoustics.